Schoolkids to be prepared for 21st century challenges

The Institutes’ Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) has unveiled the ‘E21’ campaign to focus on skills such as innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership and risk-taking among 150 students from various schools in Chennai.

A 13-year-old entrepreneur who has founded a start-up called ‘Sprinklebytes’, Rohan Nair, gave a pep talk and a demonstration on the occasion was Rohan Nair. Rohan, at a very tender age, was mentored by India’s national Tennis coach who helped him in working with the real world. Motivated, he decided to help other students by connecting them with mentors in their respective fields.

The E-Cell has taken up this initiative to equip students to handle the challenges of the 21st Century. Educators from different sectors will celebrate examples of successful 21st-century learning and illustrate how entrepreneurship empowers all learners to gain the skills they need.

Launching the initiative, Raghavendra Hunasgi, Global Shaper, World Economic Forum (WEF), and Founder and CEO, Thought Folks Digital, said, “This was an apt platform and event hosted by the E-Cell at IIT Madras and it covered most crucial aspects. It’s high time we reconsider our style of education and tailor the courses that will create entrepreneurs and innovators.”

Hunasgi, a Harvard Business School Alumni, further added, “The curriculum build a decade ago will no longer hold any relevance unless we couple it with new age technology courses and frameworks.”

Through different workshops cum lectures series, educators will teach students about how to think creatively and make innovations happen.