Aurora University’s School of Commerce and Management successfully organized a six - day AICTE-sponsored ATAL Faculty Development Program (FDP) from 26 th to 31 st August, 2024. The program, themed "Empowering Entrepreneurs: Unlocking Potential, Fostering Innovation, Driving Growth," was designed to inspire and equip faculty members with the skills needed to foster entrepreneurial excellence and innovation in academia.

The event commenced on August 26, 2024, with an inaugural session by Dr. Srilatha Chepure, Registrar of Aurora University, and Dr. R. Hafeez Basha, CEO of A-HUB and Advisor at the Engineering Staff College of India. This was followed by Session 1, where Prof. S. Venkataramanaiah from IIM Lucknow shared insights on fostering innovation and inspiring entrepreneurial excellence. Session 2 was led by Mr. Rajesh Pershad, Assistant Professor at Ashoka School of Business, who explored opportunity recognition and idea generation.

The momentum continued on August 27, 2024, with Session 3 by Prof. Ramakrishna Yalamanchili from the Institute of Public Enterprise, focusing on the implementation of NEP (2020) and business model development. Session 4 featured Mr. ISV Satya Kedar, CEO of KASE, guiding participants through business model development using the Canvas approach.

On August 28, 2024, Session 5 was conducted by CA Jagapathi Babu, covering essential aspects of financial planning, forecasting, and risk management, providing crucial financial strategies for entrepreneurs. Session 6 by Dr. Nandita Sethi emphasized the Lean Startup Methodology, highlighting the importance of agility and iterative processes for building sustainable businesses.

The program continued on August 29, 2024, with Session 7 led by Dr. Rajesh Itamalla, Assistant Professor at IIT Hyderabad, who provided valuable insights into entrepreneurial marketing strategies. Session 8, conducted by Mr. Santosh Thota, CEO of Personaliz.ai, focused on MVP (Minimum Viable Product) building and accessing funding opportunities.

On August 30, 2024, Session 9 with Dr. Sharath Chandra Aduri, Founder of Cross Family Health Care & Scala Dental Care, centered on business entity formation and intellectual property protection. The day also included an industrial visit to ALEAP (Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India), offering participants a practical view of entrepreneurial endeavors.

The program concluded on August 31, 2024, with Session 10 by Dr. Lalit Singh, Senior Scientist and Head of Artificial Intelligence Applications at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, who discussed the entrepreneurial qualities needed for technical businesses. The event concluded with a Valedictory Session led by Dr. A. Srihari Krishna, Honorary Director of Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, who congratulated the participants and highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship in today's academic landscape.

The program was a resounding success, providing participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to drive innovation and entrepreneurial growth within their institutions.