IIC
The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, under the aegis of the Innovation Cell. It aims to systematically promote a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup support in higher educational institutions (HEIs). Sunbeam Women’s College Varuna had established its IIC in 2023 and aims to carry out the following key Roles and functions:
Fostering Innovation Culture:
IIC encourages students, faculty, and staff to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. It organizes activities like idea competitions, hackathons, innovation challenges, and workshops.
Promoting Entrepreneurship:
The council guides and supports students and faculty in transforming innovative ideas into viable business models. It connects aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and incubators.
Capacity Building:
IIC conducts regular training programs, expert talks, and awareness sessions to build innovation and entrepreneurial competencies. It ensures exposure to tools and techniques used in design thinking, prototyping, and business development.
Establishing Ecosystem Linkages:
IIC acts as a bridge between the institution and other innovation ecosystem players like industries, research organizations, MSMEs, and startups. It facilitates internships, industry visits, and collaborations for joint projects.
Supporting Pre-Incubation & Incubation:
The council supports idea validation, prototype development, and technology transfer. It also facilitates access to incubation centers within or outside the institution.
Encouraging Student-Led Innovations:
IIC provides platforms for students to showcase their ideas and receive feedback from peers and experts. It supports the development of student innovation clubs and startup cells.
Documentation and Reporting:
IIC regularly submits progress reports and activity updates to the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell. It evaluates the outcomes of innovation-related activities and maintains institutional innovation performance.
Participation in National Innovation Initiatives:
IIC engages actively with national campaigns like Smart India Hackathon, Toycathon, ARIIA (Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements), and National Innovation and Startup Policy (NISP) implementation.
The Institution’s Innovation Council plays a critical role in transforming traditional educational institutions into vibrant innovation hubs. By nurturing creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, and industry-academia collaboration, IIC contributes to making students job creators rather than job seekers and supports the national mission of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
On 24.05.2024, students and pre-Incubatees of Sunbeam Women’s College Varuna visited Atal Incubation Centre, BHU for gaining technical and financial know-how for their startups and business ideas. The experts at AIC entertained the queries of the pre-Incubatees and also explained the working process of AIC. They also guided the students about digital marketing and registration of their companies. The information shared was very useful and helped the students and the Incubatees to develop their future strategies towards their business.
IIC-SWCV and Department of Science jointly organized BRAINIACS, an Inter-collegiate meeton the occasion of National Science Day. The entire event comprised 3 competitive events in the form of MS PowerPoint Presentation Competition, Painting Competition and Quiz. Prof. Tumul Singh was the judge for the Presentation competition while the painting participants were judged by Mr. Aakash Verma. Ms. Gulafsha Siddiqui was the Quizmaster for the day. Students acrossdifferent colleges in Varanasi actively participated in the competition. It was a day of interesting activities and learning for the students as they paid homage the sole Indian born Science Nobel Laureate, Dr. C. V. Raman. Happy Learning.
On 02.08.24 an awareness session was organised by IIC- SWCV along with Startup and Career Guidance Club and Dept. of Management on the topic “Startup and Government Assistance for Entrepreneurial Skill Building” presented by Ms. Akashi Mukherjee, Vice President – Startup and Career Guidance Club-BBA V Sem. She started with explaining the meaning and importance of Startups followed by startup India initiatives for buildingentrepreneurial skills. Various financial assistance and government schemes had also been discussed. Later a case study on Nestle was introduced to develop problem solving skills among the listeners. At the end the students were asked to point out some social problems for which an innovative idea could be the solution. Videos of some famous entrepreneurs were also shown during the session. This student-led activity was highly appreciated by the audiences. A vote of
thanks was presented by Dr. Reena Baral (event In charge)
Soft skills have become an essential and necessary area to hone for improving modern employability. In order to help students improve their employability and presentability, the IICSWCV conducted a session on Resume Writing and Interview Skills for the college students. The session was taken by Ms. Khyati Pathak, Soft skills and etiquette coach. Ma’am explained various essential ways to enhance the employability and the soft skills needed to crack an interview which included Body language, dressing sense, self-esteem etc. The session was very effective for the students as it made them understand the importance of these aspects apart from their academic credibility. The IIC-SWCV acknowledges Ms. Khyati Pathak for the session.
On 06.10.24, In a session organised by IIC-SWCV and AIC- BHU along withStartup and career counseling club, SWCV on the topic “Idea into reality” The students of
Su trepreneurial and startup details from the eminent entrepreneurs working in diversified fields having many patents. The incubatees of AIC- BHU presented their own examples and the challenges they faced from the initial till revenue generation phase. They also talked about how they worked on their initial idea and converted into a successful business. The entrepreneurs also discussed the legal, financial and technological aspects of the startups. The knowledge provided by them was very practical and contemporary. At the end students satisfied their queries in a question-and-answer answer.
On 09.11.24, the World Entrepreneurship Day was celebrated by IICSWCV along with the Startup and career guidance club. The students conducted an assembly in which they explained about the entrepreneurship day and the importance of entrepreneurs for the society. The main theme of the event was ” Leadership in Entrepreneurship Development” in which they demonstrated various kinds of leadership style and its usefulness for entrepreneurs. Lastly they performed a role play in which they enacted the entrepreneurship ideas of famous entrepreneurs like Gazala Alam, founder of Mama Earth and Vinita Singh, founder of Sugar Cosmetics. The event was organised to create awareness about entrepreneurship among the students
On 06.11.24, the budding entrepreneurs of Sunbeam women’s College Varuna pitched their startup ideas in front of the jury in Sparkathon 2024 – an ideation competition, at Atal Incubation center, BHU. The students presented their business ideas along with financial feasibility and marketing strategies. The competitors came up with a unique selling proposition of their innovative business ideas. They also presented their
revenue sources and expansion possibilities. The judges evaluated the entrepreneurs on the basis of feasibility, viability and pricing strategies. They also gave insights about the technical and legal aspects of each products/service. On the basis of the above criteria the judgesshortlisted three best ideas.
The workshop was an enriching experience for the students, providing them with theknowledge and skills needed to think creatively and practically in the field of
entrepreneurship. The visit to SCRAPSHALA not only deepened their under standing of sustainable product design but also inspired them to explore careers in the startup sector. The event was a success, with students thoroughly enjoying the hands-on activities and gaining valuable exposure to the dynamics of innovative business ventures.
On 11.12.2024, an Intra Institutional Innovation Competition was organized to foster the entrepreneurial skills building and innovative idea building under the college students. The students across the streams proposed their ideas which were judged on the criteria of
feasibility, creativity, presentation and scalability etc. The program was judged by Dr. K. P Singh, Assistant Professor, Dept. of. Management and Dr. Ragini Singh, HOD, Department of Science. The students presented their ideas very well in the form of PPTs. The judges asked several questions on various parameters. The students satisfied all the queries very well. The judges at thelast presented their comments and suggestions on each presentation.
On 16.01.25, fourteen students along with one teacher incharge Dr. Reena Baral, visited AIC- IMF- BHU for attending a special program on ” National Startup Day”.
In the event, Various renowned entrepreneurs shared their entrepreneurial journey and thechallenges they faced during it. They focused on the importance of risk taking attitude and passionfor any kind of entrepreneurship. Later, Prof. Ashish Bajpai,
On 21.1.2025, a Poster Presentation on Innovation was organised by IIC- SWCV in collaboration with Startup and Career Guidance Club where the students from different streams,presented their innovative business ideas through poster presentation. The students elaborated theirideas very creatively through diagrams, charts and figures. They confidently explained their concepts and satisfied all the queries of the judge. Dr.Sunil Kumar who is an assistant professor at Department of Commerce, SWCV. The Judgment criteria was based on Creativity, presentation, and research. The students appreciated the event. Dr. Sunil Kumar gave valuable suggestions to
the students for future presentations. The event helped the students to understand the place ofresearch in any new business idea generation.
On 16.01.2025, organized the students who attended virtually “Udyamotsav 2025”through the you tube link, organised by Ministry of education on the occasion of National StartupDay. The program was organised for the launch of national pitching round, FDP and presenting
the annual reports of IICs across the country. Officials from the Ministry of Education’s innovation cell, Govt of India participated in the event and presented the annual performance of 14700Institutions Innovation Councils established by the educational institutions established across thecountry. Prof. T.G. Sitaram Chaiman AICTE emphasized on making India as an innovative country
through IICs and research and development cell. He focused on giving equal opportunities to technical and non-technical Institutions for entrepreneurship development. Dr. Abhey Jere, Vice Chairman AICTE talked about the evolution of IICs as a complete hand holding process buildingstartups and conducted one lakh programs.
On 15.04.25, students visited AIC to attend a session organised by AIC in collaboration with IIC-SWCV and Start-up and Career Guidance Club on “Business Model
Canvas”. The moderator of the session was Prof. P.V. Rajeev, who is the professor in charge of AIC. He explained the Business Model Canvas to the students so that they could build a strong business proposal. The model explained the problem identification, solution, key matrics, channels, early adopters, customer segmentation, unique value preposition and existing alternatives etc. The speaker elaborated all the points and correlated it with the real-life business practices. He also motivated the students to contribute their entrepreneurial skills towards village development by identifying the gaps and finding appropriate solutions to it t hrough innovation andentrepreneurship.
On 9.04.2025, IIC-SWCV along with Department of Commerce,norganised a Workshop on Research Methodology and IPRs for the students of the college. conducted by Dr. Rinki Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, SWCV.
In the middle of ongoing semester exams, the IIC-SWCV in collaboration with BHUMI Club and APEIRON (Eco-Science Club) organized a Plantation Drive on the occasion of World Day to spread the message of environmental sustainability which can truly change a
society. The volunteers engaged themselves to plantations and gardening in areas near their respective
homes. Over [number] people participated enthusiastically in the drive and the collective efforts led to
the successful plantation of saplings. The plantation drive not only helped in greening the area but also
instilled a sense of environmental responsibility in the community. Regular follow-up and maintenance of the saplings have been planned to ensure their growth and survival. The event was a resounding success and served as a powerful reminder of our role in protecting and nurturing the environment. Small actions like planting trees can lead to big changes when embracedcollectively. On this World Environment Day, we took a step closer toward a greener and healthier planet
