24 Oct, 2024: Plaksha University, a technology university reimagining higher education and research in India, announced the launch of its new undergraduate Minor in Technology Entrepreneurship, an initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurial skills in students. This program, co-created in collaboration with UC Berkeley's Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET), marks a significant step in reimagining technology education. The launch of the minor is a part of the renewed partnership between Plaksha University and SCET.
The Minor in Technology Entrepreneurship is designed to equip undergraduate students with the knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to excel in the rapidly evolving landscape of technology-driven ventures. The program focuses on hands-on learning, enabling students to engage in real-world startup projects, simulations, and entrepreneurial challenge labs. Advanced electives at the intersection of technology, business, and sustainability are set to be introduced as the program evolves, allowing students to further specialize in their areas of interest.
Prof Nandini Kannan, Dean of Academics at Plaksha University said, “At Plaksha, we are committed to creating an ecosystem that fosters an entrepreneurial spirit through real-world experiences, innovative case-based pedagogy, and a focus on venture building. The launch of the new minor is a crucial step in equipping future innovators with the mindset and skills to solve critical global challenges and build impactful ventures.”
Speaking about the new program, Susan Giesecke, Director of Global Engagement at SCET, said, "We are excited to renew our collaboration and deepen our partnership with Plaksha University by launching the undergraduate minor in technology entrepreneurship. This program offers students a learning experience modeled after Berkeley's successful entrepreneurship curriculum, with a focus on building problem-solving and leadership skills. It is a pivotal step in preparing the next generation of Indian technology leaders."
The newest agreement between SCET and Plaksha strengthens a 3 year partnership that has been instrumental in shaping the university’s curriculum since its inception. Together, Plaksha and SCET will continue to innovate and expand their educational offerings, further solidifying their commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and encouraging meaningful impact on a global scale.
About Plaksha University:
Founded by a global community of more than 100 technology and business leaders, Plaksha envisions reimagining technology education and research for India and the world. With strong partnerships with UC Berkeley, Purdue, UC San Diego, UPenn, IIT Kanpur and IISc Bangalore, Plaksha aims to nurture and empower a generation of catalytic leaders and create an ecosystem of research and innovation. The university collapses the traditional boundaries of engineering and promotes interdisciplinary learning by combining technology, design and entrepreneurship.
Plaksha is guided by an eminent academic board including Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; Prof. S Shankar Sastry, Thomas Siebel Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Venkatesh Narayanamurthi, former Dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research India; Julia Ross, Dean of Engineering, Virginia Tech; Krishna Palepu, Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Sanjay Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT; and business leaders such as Neeraj Aggarwal, Chairman – Asia Pacific, BCG; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises ;Hitesh Oberoi, Co-promoter & CEO, Info Edge (Naukri.com); Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Fractal Analytics; Manas Human, Co- Founder, Nagarro; Navin Chaddha, Managing Director, Mayfield Fund; Sujeet Kumar, Co-founder, Udaan.com; Dalip Pathak, Special Limited Partner, Warburg Pincus LLC; CP Gurnani, former MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra; Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital among others. Corporate donors include companies like Bharti Foundation, Havells, HT Parekh Foundation, Mphasis, Axis Bank and Motilal Oswal. The global community of business leaders who founded Plaksha can be seen here.
About Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET):
The Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) is a global innovation hub headquartered at UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering, where aspiring entrepreneurs take deep dives into the world of technology entrepreneurship and embark on the path to developing exciting new ventures. The Center offers a suite of courses and programs for students, executives, and global innovators. UC Berkeley is the world’s #1 public university and ranks as the #1 university for startups and entrepreneurs, according to Pitchbook. UC Berkeley has been at the forefront of innovation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, meat alternatives, and neurotech.