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  • MSDE, BITS Pilani, and Aditya Birla Capital Foundation Launch Innovation Challenge for NSTI

    With over 10,000 trainees in focus across 33 NSTIs, the national challenge will drive grassroots entrepreneurship through incubation, mentorship, and prizes bringing long-overdue start-up access to vocational training institutes

    In a pivotal move to bring structured entrepreneurship access to India’s technical training ecosystem, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with BITS Pilani’s Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS) and the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF) to launch a national innovation challenge for students in National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) across India.
    The challenge, titled Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita, aims to provide students pursuing vocational training at NSTIs with a platform to transform technical knowledge into viable start-up ideas. It is set to benefit over 10,000 students across 33 NSTIs, including NSTI(W) institutes dedicated to women’s vocational training.

    NSTIs, under the Directorate General of Training (DGT) within MSDE, are institutions offering training under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) and Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) to create a qualified pool of skilled manpower and instructor-level talent. However, while support for start-up incubation exists in schools and higher education institutions, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space home to more than 13 lakh students across ITIs and NSTIs — has lacked structured exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship.
    At the program launch, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, remarked,
    At the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, we believe that every skilled individual carries within them the potential to become a job creator. Through this partnership with the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, we are enabling NSTI students to channel their technical skills into innovation and enterprise. The Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha will empower our young innovators to transform ideas into sustainable ventures, strengthening India’s vision of becoming an Aatmanirbhar and innovation-driven nation.

    The program focuses on five high-impact sectors IT/ITeS, Automotive, Apparel, Electronics & Hardware, Power, and Manufacturing. Selected students will receive end-to-end support, from ideation and mentoring to prototyping and market validation. Finalists will also receive incubation support from PIEDS, the business incubator of BITS Pilani, ensuring technical and strategic handholding.
    The initiative also reflects the growing alignment between government, academic institutions, and philanthropic arms of the private sector to bridge systemic gaps in technical education. Aditya Birla Capital Foundation is supporting the program through its CSR efforts, enabling PIEDS to manage outreach, evaluation, and mentorship infrastructure at scale.

    By anchoring the challenge within the NSTI ecosystem, the program repositions vocational institutes as not just training hubs, but as early-stage innovation accelerators, aligned with India’s broader start-up and skilling vision.
    The Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha is also in line with the goals of NEP 2020, which advocates for entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and experiential learning across all levels of education. By infusing a structured innovation ecosystem into the vocational space, the challenge will help students shift from traditional job-seeking mindsets to building sustainable enterprises.
    Beyond awards and incubation, the challenge will create a blueprint for embedding start-up support in India’s skill development framework a step long overdue and essential for inclusive economic growth.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

  • France’s Excelia Business School Deepens AI Focus with aivancity and UC Berkeley

    From Paris to Silicon Valley, a new pathway opens for Indian and international students to master AI strategy, ethics, and global industry skills

    Excelia Business School (France) has officially expanded its academic alliance with aivancity, the premier French school for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, marking a new chapter in its global AI curriculum. Strengthening this collaboration are three distinct learning opportunities, including a flagship programme co-designed with the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley, one of the most respected institutions in technology and innovation.

    As Artificial Intelligence continues to redefine the role of future managers, this partnership aims to equip Excelia’s Master in Management students with the technical acumen, ethical grounding, and international exposure necessary to lead in an increasingly AI-driven economy. The trio of offerings is tailored to address the dynamic needs of global learners, particularly from rapidly evolving markets like India, where the AI sector is forecasted to reach $17 billion by 2027.

    At the core of this partnership lies the ‘Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Business’ certification, which will be integrated into Year 1 of the Master in Management programme at Excelia’s Paris-Cachan campus. Designed and taught by aivancity’s academic faculty, the course provides foundational skills in responsible AI usage. Delivered entirely online, it features a mix of live lectures, interactive simulations, and asynchronous sessions to accommodate global students.

    The second key component is a more immersive and advanced offering: ‘AI Product Engineering: From Concept to Market’, jointly developed by aivancity and UC Berkeley. A select group of Excelia students up to ten per academic year will gain access to this intensive programme focused on product lifecycle development, high-tech engineering, and strategic market readiness. The programme also includes an optional study trip to Silicon Valley, where students will engage with leading technology firms and innovation leaders.

    Rounding out the new initiatives is direct access to the MSc in Data Management at aivancity for Excelia Business School graduates. This programme covers everything from technical capabilities in Python, Cloud architecture, and machine learning, to project management and industry-recognised certifications across Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. Ten places are reserved annually for Excelia learners, making it a competitive but accessible opportunity.

    These initiatives complement the AI-focused courses already rolled out at Excelia earlier this year. Since February 2025, all Year 1 students have undergone mandatory AI training. Additionally, a specialisation track in AI, Data & Business Analytics is now live, combining data science, algorithmic reasoning, and ethical governance to prepare students for industry-grade challenges.

    This alliance also reflects the growing demand among Indian students for hybrid, globally connected learning models. With India becoming one of the fastest adopters of AI across sectors from fintech to logistics the programme arrives at a critical time for learners seeking global skills and ethical decision-making frameworks.
    The deeper integration with aivancity and the Berkeley partnership are further evidence of Excelia’s commitment to evolving business education. It positions the school as a future-focused institution ready to meet global challenges by nurturing AI-competent, ethically aware leaders.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube