Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education in India

Harshit Desai, Director, MIT ID Innovation, in an interaction with Higher Education Review, expressed his thoughts on how innovation and entrepreneurship education contribute to the future-readiness of students. He believes that besides the theoretical knowledge aspect, being educated in innovation and entrepreneurship allows students to think creatively, see opportunities, and apply their ideas to create solutions for the market. Harshit stressed the significance of experiential learning, stating that internships, hackathons, live projects and incubation projects were critical pathways for students to experience real-life exposures, enhance their problem-solving skills, and build their resilience to tackle challenges.

With decades of experience in design management, strategy, and research experience, Harshit Desai works on the intersection of business, technology, and design to develop innovative learning experiences for professionals and aspiring innovators. As a PhD Research Candidate in Design Management at MIT ADT University, Harshit leads Masters of Design Management and MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship programs at MIT Institute of Design. He actively works on leading industry collaborations, research projects, and student engagement programs, providing meaningful projects offered by startups, corporations, and nonprofits to the students at the intersections of design, business and technology.

How can learning innovation and entrepreneurship help students turn their ideas into real businesses?

Innovation and entrepreneurship education focusses on identifying problems and opportunities and coming up with solutions in the form of viable products and services in the marketplace. By studying innovation and entrepreneurship, individuals learn how to develop their creative thinking, recognize opportunities, and generate solutions to real-world challenges. The learning experience involves taking the concepts and put them through the process of prototyping, testing them, and then finally launching them to market. In contrast to traditional education, which tends to focus on only theoretical studies all within a classroom, education in innovation and entrepreneurship takes on a learning environment that is ultimately hands-on and experiential framework.

What are the most important skills a student can gain from entrepreneurship education that traditional courses don’t teach?

The first important attribute to be cultivated in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship is a problem-solving mindset. Developing this ability includes being empathetic and sensitive to  social realities around oneself, identifying what real problems are and then developing solutions that create value. Entrepreneurship and innovation require a combination of technical, creative and social skills, risk taking attitude, and ability  to overcome problems in challenging situations. Additionally, being an entrepreneur or innovator requires strong leadership and team-building skills, along with compassion and a willingness to collaborate. These interpersonal and strategic capacities represent key aspects of education in innovation and entrepreneurship, equipping students to drive impactful initiatives successfully.

What are the best ways for students to gain hands-on experience in startups or entrepreneurial projects during college?

In contrast to traditional education systems, innovation and entrepreneurship education is based on the principle of learning by doing. The most effective way students will gain real-world experience is through engagement with the incubation centers or entrepreneurship cells offered within their educational institution. Hackathons have also been at the forefront of competitions where students can develop these skills and gain practical experience with problem-solving and solution development. Participating in these challenges will allow students to apply their knowledge in practical, real-world contexts.

In addition, working on live projects with industry partners or startups allows students to get valuable exposure into the real processes of innovation and entrepreneurship. Internships with startups, allow students to build their own startup or teams, continue that experiential learning process and gain experience in developing and implementing innovative solutions.

How does entrepreneurship education prepare students for jobs of the future, including self-employment or freelance work?

Entrepreneurial education is built on a mindset that embraces ownership, initiative, and opportunity-seeking. It empowers students to not only manage projects independently but also lead effective teams to execute real-world solutions. This approach nurtures self-reliance, proactive thinking, and the confidence to take decisive action. As students engage in this learning, they gain skills that go beyond traditional roles—enabling them to launch their own projects, build teams, and create ventures. It broadens their career pathways and strengthens their ability to make meaningful, lasting impact.

How can universities and colleges in India make entrepreneurship learning exciting, practical, and accessible for every student?

A university must teach innovation and entrepreneurship in a different way than through lectures, because there are many aspects of this education that are not delivered through conventional teaching. It will require access to maker spaces, facilities for boot camps and hackathons, opportunities to work on industry projects, and opportunities to engage with start-ups  who can share their experiences and successes. Although theoretical knowledge is still important, the core of innovation and entrepreneurship education lies in experiential learning—transforming ideas into prototypes, prototypes into minimum viable products (MVPs), and MVPs into functioning businesses.

This process emphasizes multidisciplinary and collaboration, integrating engineering, design, business, and other domains. Innovation and entrepreneurship focus on creating new answers for today and tomorrow. A contemporary university needs to recognize the need, accept multiple perspectives, and establish an integrated environment for collaborative and innovative education.

In a country like India, where jobs are competitive, why is learning entrepreneurship becoming as important as traditional academic success?

Many graduates with conventional degrees are not fully  prepared for the industry or ready for employment. In this context, learning about innovation and entrepreneurship can prove highly valuable. Learners who possess an entrepreneurial mindset defined by ownership, initiative, and value creation are better prepared for the competitive job market today.

Entrepreneurial learning encompasses more than simply initiating the business or a start-up, it's about cultivating a mindset that enables individuals to deal with uncertainty, endure discomfort, and re-think strategies to create opportunities continuously, perpetually, and over time. This type of preparation encourages students to be not only effective in their job searches, but also potential job creators for increased relevance and flexibility across different careers.

How does the intersection of design, business, and technology drive innovation and shape the future of entrepreneurship?

Design has become a vital aspect of innovation and entrepreneurship. It encompasses design thinking, design processes, and even problem-solving methods. These design aspects are now rooted in startup and entrepreneurial activity. The intentional mind that is in design can influence a change in purpose across sectors.

Design itself has emerged as a significant domain, with design-driven startups succeeding in spaces from digital products to consumer electronics, to traditional craft-based products, and experiential services. When design is combined with technology and organized within a robust business model, it generates the ideal environment for innovation. In essence, innovation occurs when design, business, and technology meet, and real ideas are applied to turning concepts into impactful, market-ready solutions.