PULWAMA: Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) on Friday organized a one-day Entrepreneurship Orientation Program (EOP) for the students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) here at its Sempora campus.

The program was specifically designed for B.Sc. Forestry students, who were accompanied by faculty from the Department of Forestry, SKUAST-K.

The primary objective of the program was to develop an entrepreneurial intention among the students besides awareness about the vast opportunities and institutional support mechanisms available for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The orientation session placed a strong emphasis on educating students about the critical role that entrepreneurship and innovation play in shaping modern careers. Participants were encouraged to view entrepreneurship not only as a viable career path but also as a means to contribute to economic growth and societal transformation.

Around 83 students participated in the orientation programme who interacted with the faculty and were briefed about the evolving entrepreneurship culture in the U.T of Jammu and Kashmir along with business plan modelling, Detailed Project Report (DPR) formulation, capacity building and providing financial and market linkage including handholding and mentorship support to the aspiring entrepreneurs. The students were also briefed about the J&K Startup Policy 2024-27.

A key focus of the interaction was to encourage students to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career option. They engaged in brainstorming sessions on innovative startup ideas and discussed their potential to be developed into successful business ventures. The event also included a Q&A session where students shared their perspectives on entrepreneurship and clarified their doubts with the experts.

This EOP-cum-interaction session is part of JKEDI's ongoing initiative to introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship and enhance their understanding of startups as key drivers of innovation and economic development.