ACPC shuts down ideas ki Pathshala
Even
as the state prepares for a Vibrant Gujarat Start-up Summit on October
21 and 22 at Mahatma Mandir, Gujarat's biggest technological university
(GTU) has lost its start-up space provided by the Admission Committee
for Professional Courses (ACPC) two years ago. The Student Start-up
Support System (S4), run by GTU's Innovation Council, operated from the
second floor of the ACPC building before it was forced to vacate the
place. On September 3, ACPC officials had barged into the hall and
interrupted a design seminar before throwing the students out, those who
were attending the seminar have alleged. Since then the students have
been without a place to brainstorm and hold meetings.
THE IMPORTANCE OF S4
Around 150 students have been working on 35 start-ups here and 256 seminars have already taken place at the ACPC hall, which was specially set up to boost the students' start-ups. Students have tweeted the PMO for support, saying they have lost the space that supported and nurtured their ideas. The GTU Innovation Council had developed and implemented the University Student Start-up Policy at the university, which is now being implemented in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Malay Shukla, a student has stated, "Tens of student associates are working along with over 40 students working at Community innovation and Co-creation centres (C-i-C3 lab).
At least, 300 to 400 students visit GTU Innovation Council every week for sensitisation workshops." The start-up space catered to areas like design engineering, community innovation, e-library, robotics labs, all of which have been closed now. There were sharp reactions from students and others when they heard about this abrupt, unplanned closing of space that was so important for their creative pursuits. A student said on condition of anonymity, "All of a sudden, around 2 pm on September 3, some ACPC officials barged into the hall and told us to leave the place. Later, we came to know that we had lost our space for start-ups. Our work has now totally stopped. It's been 15 days since the incident and we have no idea what the future holds for us."
Another student refusing to be named said, "We were doing all our startup work from here. When such a thing like this closes abruptly, we find it difficult to explain it to others like those working under us. Such type of incidents send a wrong image of educational institutes like GTU. Malay has tweeted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani to look into the matter. @GTUIC, Gujarat's biggest tech university's Innovation Council lost its co-working space from #ACPC. I request @PMOIndia to look into this." @PMOIndia Many incubated startups lost their space at @GTUIC.
I request @narendramodi n @vijayrupanibjp to help startups & GTU staff. Start-up mentor Kumar Manish said, "Globally universities are nurturing young start-ups by providing infrastructure support which includes basic amenities primarily comprising high internet connectivity and place to intermingle with young minds from cross discipline. "GTU innovation council S4 was a popular place for young and aspiring start-ups to come together and work on their projects. It was centrally located and accessible to all start-up stakeholders.
Instead of supporting it and taking it further, the authorities have relocated it without taking the startups incubated there into confidence. The start-ups were not informed in advance and there is lot of confusion going in their minds." The shifting to another venue will mean wastage of public money as S4 was recently upgraded with better facilities. According to Jatin Chaudhary, cofounder & salesman, eChai Ventures, said, "The news of GTU's S4 centre shutting down seems little disappointing as it was very convenient for many student start-ups to have a co-working space in the middle of the city and also for the communities to host their programmes."
GTU VC Rajul Gajjar said, "We will shift the students to another location in three or four days. There has been no loss to students. During the VCship of Akshai Aggarwal too there were talks of getting this place vacated." Commissioner of Technical Education A M Mankad was unaware about the whole issue when Mirror contacted him. "I am the chairperson of both ACPC and GTU but nobody has brought this to my notice." GTU officials, meanwhile, said they are still to decide on the place where S4 will be shifted.
THE IMPORTANCE OF S4
Around 150 students have been working on 35 start-ups here and 256 seminars have already taken place at the ACPC hall, which was specially set up to boost the students' start-ups. Students have tweeted the PMO for support, saying they have lost the space that supported and nurtured their ideas. The GTU Innovation Council had developed and implemented the University Student Start-up Policy at the university, which is now being implemented in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Malay Shukla, a student has stated, "Tens of student associates are working along with over 40 students working at Community innovation and Co-creation centres (C-i-C3 lab).
At least, 300 to 400 students visit GTU Innovation Council every week for sensitisation workshops." The start-up space catered to areas like design engineering, community innovation, e-library, robotics labs, all of which have been closed now. There were sharp reactions from students and others when they heard about this abrupt, unplanned closing of space that was so important for their creative pursuits. A student said on condition of anonymity, "All of a sudden, around 2 pm on September 3, some ACPC officials barged into the hall and told us to leave the place. Later, we came to know that we had lost our space for start-ups. Our work has now totally stopped. It's been 15 days since the incident and we have no idea what the future holds for us."
Another student refusing to be named said, "We were doing all our startup work from here. When such a thing like this closes abruptly, we find it difficult to explain it to others like those working under us. Such type of incidents send a wrong image of educational institutes like GTU. Malay has tweeted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani to look into the matter. @GTUIC, Gujarat's biggest tech university's Innovation Council lost its co-working space from #ACPC. I request @PMOIndia to look into this." @PMOIndia Many incubated startups lost their space at @GTUIC.
I request @narendramodi n @vijayrupanibjp to help startups & GTU staff. Start-up mentor Kumar Manish said, "Globally universities are nurturing young start-ups by providing infrastructure support which includes basic amenities primarily comprising high internet connectivity and place to intermingle with young minds from cross discipline. "GTU innovation council S4 was a popular place for young and aspiring start-ups to come together and work on their projects. It was centrally located and accessible to all start-up stakeholders.
Instead of supporting it and taking it further, the authorities have relocated it without taking the startups incubated there into confidence. The start-ups were not informed in advance and there is lot of confusion going in their minds." The shifting to another venue will mean wastage of public money as S4 was recently upgraded with better facilities. According to Jatin Chaudhary, cofounder & salesman, eChai Ventures, said, "The news of GTU's S4 centre shutting down seems little disappointing as it was very convenient for many student start-ups to have a co-working space in the middle of the city and also for the communities to host their programmes."
GTU VC Rajul Gajjar said, "We will shift the students to another location in three or four days. There has been no loss to students. During the VCship of Akshai Aggarwal too there were talks of getting this place vacated." Commissioner of Technical Education A M Mankad was unaware about the whole issue when Mirror contacted him. "I am the chairperson of both ACPC and GTU but nobody has brought this to my notice." GTU officials, meanwhile, said they are still to decide on the place where S4 will be shifted.
