World Students’ Day is observed annually on October 15, and the day commemorates the birthday of former Indian President Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. On the birth anniversary of the late aerospace scientist, teacher and former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, this occasion is celebrated nationally in India every year. The aim is to acknowledge his superior, concentrated efforts to improve the world of education and students. He is fondly remembered as “People’s President,” and his birthday is commemorated as Students’ Day.
Tracing the background, Dr Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 to a Muslim family in the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island. Significantly, it was in a landslide victory, that he became the 11th president of the Republic of India on July 18, 2002. During his successful five-year tenure, he was fondly called the “People’s President” and suffice it to say that he was loved by the people of India.
What sets a student entrepreneur apart from their grown-up counterparts?
On this auspicious day, we take a close look at student entrepreneurship. How do you understand the ‘Student Entrepreneur’? Student entrepreneurs are creative individuals with a passion for helping others within their own communities. They intend to set up their start-up businesses and be involved in everything – from web design, setting up a team, to developing technology and so on.
Student entrepreneurs are not driven by dreams of only making money. Sure, they may want some financial gain at the end of running their businesses, but this isn’t their sole goal. The next generation of entrepreneurs are, instead, driven by the potential to do things better, to create value for society and to help people in need. It’s all about trying to make a difference in the world.
So, how do student entrepreneurs produce this change?
Creativity is key
Student entrepreneurs are creative individuals, regardless of whether they’re training to be an engineer or a manager. Entrepreneurship has long been associated with innovation and, student entrepreneurs may not want to do anything ‘new’ to be an entrepreneur; instead student entrepreneurs are often interested in doing things differently – whether it is about making incremental improvements to existing products and services, or applying an alternative business model and way of thinking to a problem.
And, what is the road ahead? Why is this important? Given that so many of our student entrepreneurs participate in entrepreneurship education programmes, it is imperative that the would-be-entrepreneur yearns to launch a successful business venture – here it takes determination, perseverance and tenacity. But, it also requires a thorough understanding of your specific area of focus, (what was studied in college), in addition to a wide variety of business skills that will all be leveraged in your business. This includes marketing, leadership, financial literacy, product management, negotiation, strategic thinking, soft skills and so much more.
Studying entrepreneurship and innovation gives you a well-rounded training that focuses on all of these areas, and more – to gear you up to become well-versed in all the areas that will impact your business venture.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
