AMRITSAR: In a landmark move to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state, the Government of Punjab has constituted a Working Group on Higher Education Reforms for an Entrepreneurial Punjab. The initiative follows a high-level meeting chaired by the Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education & Languages recently and aligns closely with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Working Group is chaired by Dr. Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and fourteen other members includes senior IAS officers, vice-chancellors of leading universities and representatives from industry and innovation sectors. The Member Secretary of the group is Sh. Jatinder Pal Singh, Deputy Director, Department of Higher Education and Languages.
This committee is tasked with developing and implementing actionable strategies to embed entrepreneurial thinking and practice within Punjab’s higher education institutions. Key focus areas include, Designing a state-wide roadmap for integrating entrepreneurial education, Proposing a credit-based curriculum and its delivery mechanisms, Recommending tech-enabled platforms (including AI tools) for mentoring and tracking student-led startups, Establishing strong linkages with industry, Diaspora networks, and financial institutions to ensure robust mentoring and funding support.
The group has been mandated to submit its initial report within 10 days, setting the pace for swift and meaningful reforms. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Karamjeet Singh emphasized, “This is a unique opportunity to channel the risk-taking spirit and innovative drive of Punjab’s youth into productive, job-creating ventures. We must work collectively to turn our campuses into incubators of ideas and enterprise.”The Government has called upon all relevant departments, institutions, and stakeholders to extend full cooperation for the effective execution of the committee’s recommendations. This initiative is a significant step towards positioning Punjab as a leading state in innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment generation.