STFE programme training begins in Nagaland to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and practical problem-solving among students.
DIMAPUR — The two-day Seed the Future Entrepreneur (STFE) programme training commenced in Kohima on Friday, bringing together schools and technical institutions to promote innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among young people.
Organised and funded by Dassault Systèmes La Fondation, with support from the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, the national-level initiative is being implemented in Nagaland by Lend A Hand India (LAHI) in partnership with Samagra Shiksha Nagaland under the Department of School Education.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Chumbeni Kikon, Joint Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, encouraged participating schools, teachers, students and technical college interns to think beyond conventional approaches, observe their surroundings and identify practical solutions to local problems.
Drawing on everyday examples, she said challenges encountered by family members in household activities and by farmers during cultivation and harvesting could serve as inspiration for innovative ideas.
She also highlighted the programme's potential to support promising innovations by providing an ecosystem in which young innovators can develop their ideas and explore opportunities for commercialisation.
Ten schools from Nagaland are participating in the programme: GHSS Singrijan, GHS Toluvi, PM Shri GHS Naharbari, PM Shri GHS Kiruphema, GHSS Jotsoma, PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kohima, Livingstone Foundation International, St. Paul School, Phesama, Nazareth School, Pfutsero, and Hollotoli School, Dimapur.
The programme also involves interns from three institutions under the Directorate of Technical Education: Government Polytechnic Kohima, Government Polytechnic Seithekema-C and Government Polytechnic Tsünazho.
Their participation aims to strengthen collaboration between school and technical education, with interns supporting students in developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
The technical sessions are being facilitated by Arundhati Jadhav, ATL Programme Lead at Lend A Hand India.
The first day covered design thinking, competition guidelines, an orientation to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and hands-on 3D design practice.
The second day will focus on student project development and mentoring, hands-on practice with the XDesign platform, and the planning and implementation of the internship programme.
The STFE Programme aims to nurture innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among young people by encouraging them to identify real-world challenges, develop practical solutions and explore opportunities to take their ideas forward.