What an 'idea' VTU

The Visvevaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, Vice Chancellor Dr H Maheshappa said the university would start an online idea bank, a pool of project ideas by students from this academic year. The workable ideas will be assigned as projects to final year BE students and successful projects can be commercialised, he said.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of 38th series of seminar and exhibition of student project programme (SPP), organised by Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management at Adyar campus on Thursday, he said the VTU was giving its campus free for one year for students who were interested in entrepreneurship. The VTU Academy for Skill Development has been started at Dandeli and Muddenahalli, he added.

A three-month certificate courses on tourist guide (with training in French language) will be conducted. The university has added an industrial require in curriculum from this year. People from industries will visit classrooms and explain the needs of the industries and train students on practical lines. So, students need not get a separate training after completing the course, Maheshappa said.

In his inaugural address, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Deputy Director Prof Jayant M Modak emphasised on entrepreneurship skills and innovations. He meanwhile reminded the students that they should be sure that their innovations would make world a better place to live. In India, out of 42 crore people who are employed, only three crore are in organised sector and others are self-employed. “Entrepreneurship is a character that comes from within. One should be passionate about his idea and should communicate it with others. He should be  optimistic and should be ready to take risk. He should also think about the final outcome and business plan,” he said.

Boost for bio-fuel
The Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board Managing Director A K Monappa said that International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) had agreed to sanction around Rs 300 crore of loan with one per cent interest to Karnataka government through Central government for the production of biodiesel and bioethenal.

‘VTU, a part of SPP’
There are 33 district-level infrastructure and demonstration centres on biofuel that have been established by the board including at NITK-Surathkal and Nitte. In every centre, 100 litres of biofuel are produced everyday. The board, from the last four years till last March, has produced 54,000 litres of biodiesel.

The Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology Secretary Prof M S Mohan Kumar said that the VTU had agreed to be a part of student project programme (SPP) from next year. The Bhandary Foundation Chairman Manjunath Bhandary agreed to give land to the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology on Sahyadri campus.

Dr H Maheshappa released student project programme and CD. A book named ‘Geographical Indications of Karnataka’ was also released on the occasion.