Start-ups are a rage these days and people, young and old, are moving toward entrepreneurship. And in order to encourage bright minds to come up with their own business ideas and give them the much-needed push, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, has allowed students and faculty members to take a year off from college.
According to a report by Money Control, “In case (a) student intends to take a year off to pursue entrepreneurship on a full-time basis, his application would be routed through the dean for approval,” read the institute’s policy document.
Moreover, it also allows students (pursuing entrepreneurial ventures) to use their address in the institute to register their company with due permission. However, this facility is available to students whose firms have been funded and incubated by PIEDS (Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society), BITS Pilani’s official tech-business incubator, said the report.
As soon as the announcement became public, people online thought that this was a historic move.
BITS Pilani has allowed students to take a year off from college to build their startups. 🙌
History is in making. 🇮🇳
— Aditya (@thefaadguy) November 1, 2022
Surely a welcome move by an Indian university. The Indian university system lives in the past, locking in 3 years of students with the added burden of attendance.
We need more flexible systems in India.@bitspilaniindia congratulations!#india #startups #bitspilani pic.twitter.com/FIMdKA6RrW
— Naman Tekriwal (@namantekriwal_) November 2, 2022
BITS Pilani has allowed students to take a year off from college to build their startups. 🙌🏼
Wonderful initiative! More such colleges are needed. Would give a breathing space to the students to let their creativity out.
— Asmita Shah (@casmita26) November 2, 2022
Great initiative, Colleges like @bitspilaniindia taking these type of steps then this will be going to a new normal soon. BITS is always inspirational for every other engineering colleges or universities.
Respect for taking a good change.#startupindia https://t.co/BgmDXRACZE— Parikshit manglunia (@pa10231) November 2, 2022
Finally!! Changes happening for something grt
Best initiative by UGC https://t.co/07J5DpxXHt— Aditi (@AditiSingrodia) November 2, 2022
FREAKING BRILLIANT! Well done, @bitspilaniindia https://t.co/gDetVCDIfm
— Surbhi Hablani (she/her) (@SurbhiHablani) November 2, 2022
@IIMAhmedabad was the first to introduce this gap year way back in 2009 or 2010 to support student startups . They also created a provision that after gap year they can sit for placement if they wish to or in case startup don’t do well.
Not sure, if this still continues. https://t.co/5Rxf96cRc4
— Kumar Manish (@kumarmanish9) November 1, 2022
Delightful https://t.co/PtLF2LOtsT
— Rishabh Singhi (@RishabhSinghi23) November 1, 2022
India has a bright future. https://t.co/occhUJzwLP
— CrimCakes (@CrimCakesHindi) November 1, 2022
Blockbuster ! https://t.co/dsIkkHJgdh
— Creative chaos (@Ragibjavid) November 1, 2022
This is indeed a welcome move as students won’t have to drop out of college to pursue their ventures. Moreover, they would also get the needed support and guidance that most of them lack in the initiation stages. What do you think?