CII turns to schools to spur entrepreneurs

Associations like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are actively involved in more such activities including cross training of principals and senior teachers from TN internationally. Giving us an idea on how the initiative is finding resonance in Tamil Nadu, CK Ranganathan, Chairman & Managing Director, CavinKare Pvt Ltd, tells us, “I am part of two educational institutions where we have already inculcated the idea of entrepreneurial education at the high school level i.e. from the Class 6 onwards. We run a school in Cuddalore called the CK School of Practical Knowledge. As part of their syllabus, the students get industry exposure through industrial visits and such related activities. Finally, when they go out into the real world, they will know how to assess the profitability of any basic business enterprise – in a simple manner. 

We are not looking at the finance model of costing. Take for instance, how does one work out the cost mechanisms of a roadside tea/coffee shop or a kirana/ petty/corner store. How does the business work and the capital required to run it – these are some of the problems they get to think about. The other school where such education is being imparted is Bala Vidya Mandir, Adyar.”

He adds, “Exposing them to an automotive factory will overwhelm them owing to the sheer size of the industry. Starting small makes more sense, when it comes to youngsters. Currently, many students during the schooling years, who do not happen to come from a business family, are concerned with the notion of securing a good job once they are done with their education. 

Our methodology aims to give an alternate choice, instead of being a job seeker, one can become a job creator. We coach them with success stories of well-known entrepreneurs. We also engage students in group discussions, similar to how it’s done in B-schools, but at a younger age. The Government of India is now insisting on bring in entrepreneurship lessons from high school and is working on a curriculum for the same. We all expect it to become a reality soon, hopefully next year.” 

CII on its part is undertaking many orientation programmes, to facilitate cross learning and transfer of knowledge between Indian and international schools. Ranganathan says, “Last month, the CII had taken a group of principals and senior faculty from across Tamil Nadu to Finland on a sensitisation programme. This was an unprecedented move as other the faculties and promoters of schools are now expressing an interest in being part of such annual programmes. CII has set up a national committee to take care of these programmes now.”

The CII Southern Region will be hosting the seventh edition of the CII-SR Emerging Entrepreneurs Awards 2016 on March 24, 2017 at Hyderabad. CK Ranganathan, who is also the Chairman, CII-SR says that the award seeks to nurture, cherish and recognise first generation entrepreneurs from South Indian states, who have exhibited compelling potential to scale up to national and global players. The first edition of the award was held in 2009-10. Eligibility criteria for the award include: first gen entrepreneurs, with out of the box ideas, having minimum 5 and maximum 10 years of business, with an annual turnover of Rs 5 crore and based out of South India. The last date for submitting nominations is Jan 20, 2017.