Industry-Student collaboration Initiative
Opportunity For Students & Faculty To Work With SMEs On Live Short Term Projects
Context
Jharkhand Small Industries Association (JSIA) has been working for betterment of its member enterprises since last several years. It is one of the premier association representing MSMEs and its performance and contribution is recognized by both state and the central government. JSIA’s activities have increased several folds over years. The association has been successful in serving as a critical link between the enterprises, government and others responsible for framework conditions in the economic environment. JSIA has entered into a partnership with MSME INNO- a bilateral programme jointly implemented by GIZ & the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. This programme aims to strengthen the the innovation ecosystem in which the MSMEs operate by strengthening cooperation between industry academia, government and other stakeholders. In order to facilitate vibrant relationship between Industries & local academic/research institutions; JSIA together with MSME INNO intends to facilitate some live research projects ideas that addresses specific problem of an Industry/group of industries.
Industry-Student collaboration Initiative:
Despite being more flexible than the bigger companies, one of the constraints which most of SMEs face is their inability to exactly define their problems /ideas as well as to access advanced technical and management expertise available with Academia. This adversely impacts their performance, growth, and sustainability.
This initiative intends to facilitate interaction and cooperation between SMEs and Academia (faculty and Masters/PHD students) on real life cases. Live short term project ideas that aim to further define/develop/solve any specific problem of an Industry/group of industries. Such project can be undertaken by one / group (3-5) of students under guidance of the faculty. These projects will help students apply their knowledge and gain practical industry experience and at the same time will be helpful to industry to either define and develop their ideas/ problem or solve their problems.
JSIA would identify and mobilize such SMEs; who are progressive and have an interest in changing the status quo and would coordinate with institutions to manage this initiative – with support from Indo German Cooperation Project.
Benefits to Stakeholders (Students and SMEs)
Live industrial project short term assignment will provide the students an opportunity to use and test the skills they have learnt and practice it in a real case/industry. In the process, students would:
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Define and work to a project idea/brief
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Gain experience of working as a consultant ( with a team of technical specialists/expert on a particular project idea)
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Undertake research to analyze relevant information
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Make use of their soft skills- eg; negotiating & management skills
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Develop monitoring and other progress indicators
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Prepare report with recommendations
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Deliver a result against an agreed deadline.
In addition to the above, JSIA will make arrangements to provide some stipend and certificate of appreciation jointly signed by the industry, association and GIZ.
Industry would have access to technical knowhow and professional expertise available with institutes (students and faculty) and will be able to define/develop/solve its problem and or Ideas at a nominal costs. They would be well informed and will be relatively in a better position to take next steps.
Role of SMEs
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Define Project/research idea ; basic feature of the short term project should
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relate to industry’s real problem or opportunity
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clearly define – what do they want to be done? what outcome is expected
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be manageable within the duration of 2 week – 6 weeks
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Should make available required resources, documents, access to concerned personnel and feedback (preferably written) etc to work on the project effectively
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Willing to contribute a part of stipend
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Delegate a single point of contact for coordinating project
Role of Industry Association
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The association collects and collates the various project ideas from MSMEs who are interested to engage group of students to undertake a project in their enterprises
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After classification and screening, the BMO sends the list of project ideas to Institute.
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Once the Institute communicates the interest of students for particular project idea; JSIA links the students and concerned MSME.
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It also acts as a point of contact for MSMEs to interact with Institute.
Role of ACADEMIA (Technology, Management, Research Institutions)
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Disseminate information among its students, scholars and faculty through different channels of communication
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Coordinate with the interested students and assigns interested students/scholars into different project and appoint a mentor/advisor to each group from its faculty.
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It nominates a single point of contact from the institute with whom the industry interacts.
SUPPORT FROM “INNOVATION IN SME PROJECT
GIZ project team would assist JSIA in the roll out of this initiative through
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Defining processes for each stage
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Networking and bringing partner institute/s on board
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Some Funds to support projects and recognize ( some prize money for best 3 projects- say 30000 , 20000, 10000 for first 3 student project; if atleast 10 student projects are undertaken)
