Comments on: Encouraging Student Entrepreneurship in India http://orbitchange.com/blog/2006/11/12/iste-panel-discussion/ Sharad Sharma examines the transformation challenges facing the software industry Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:48:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Ravi Aranke http://orbitchange.com/blog/2006/11/12/iste-panel-discussion/#comment-10 Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:34:35 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2006/11/12/iste-panel-discussion/#comment-10 I have been talking to various groups of students and trying to get them excited about developing open source software - argument being that a) you would be working on real life systems and not toy projects b) the work you do is in the public domain and will build reputation for you and c) possibly, you could spin off a company based on your work. I have been involved with IIT Mumbai's Eklavya program (http://ekalavya.iitb.ac.in/) as a vehicle through which to push these ideas. Unfortunately, the results have not been very encouraging so far and I see few problems. 1) Trying to reinvent the wheel Each group of students wants to roll their own version of Linux :) There is no clear value proposition and understanding of what is already out there. 2) Gap between students' knowledge and the state of the art I come across very few students who have understanding of new technologies such as AJAX. They still think that C or .net or Java should be used for all programming. 3) A disdain for 'non programming' work QA, support, documentation could offer a gentler learning curve and a good entry point into the project of your choice. This is not understood and these tasks are looked down upon. == I understand that the majority of the students are only interested in passing exams and certifications etc. which is fine. But where is that minority which is notable exceptions and which is going to create the next gen. companies? Any ideas on how to find/nurture such group are most welcome. I have been talking to various groups of students and trying to get them excited about developing open source software - argument being that a) you would be working on real life systems and not toy projects b) the work you do is in the public domain and will build reputation for you and c) possibly, you could spin off a company based on your work.

I have been involved with IIT Mumbai’s Eklavya program (http://ekalavya.iitb.ac.in/) as a vehicle through which to push these ideas.

Unfortunately, the results have not been very encouraging so far and I see few problems.

1) Trying to reinvent the wheel

Each group of students wants to roll their own version of Linux :)
There is no clear value proposition and understanding of what is already out there.

2) Gap between students’ knowledge and the state of the art

I come across very few students who have understanding of new technologies such as AJAX. They still think that C or .net or Java should be used for all programming.

3) A disdain for ‘non programming’ work

QA, support, documentation could offer a gentler learning curve and a good entry point into the project of your choice. This is not understood and these tasks are looked down upon.

==
I understand that the majority of the students are only interested in passing exams and certifications etc. which is fine. But where is that minority which is notable exceptions and which is going to create the next gen. companies?

Any ideas on how to find/nurture such group are most welcome.

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