Creativity, Innovation take centre stage at IUST Business Fest

Awantipora, June 11: From postcards with Kashmiri poetry inscribed on them to gaming and jewellery, dozens of stalls set up by students on Tuesday in well-manicured lawns of the Islamic University of Science and Technology ( IUST), offered a diverse array of things to visitors.

The stalls were part of the novel Business Fest 0.1 organised by the Department of Management Studies in collaboration with Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development ( CEID).

Dozens of students from different departments of the varsity set up over 50 stalls with a plethora of products available on them.

The stalls were adorned with homemade food, candies, artefacts, jewellery, gems and garments. Even there were stalls with motorbikes available at them.

Since morning, the students and faculty members made a beeline for these stalls to buy various products.

Prof. Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor IUST also visited the different stalls and interacted with the students.

“Business festivals are invaluable for budding student entrepreneurs, offering opportunities to build essential skills for successful entrepreneurship and future growth”, Romshoo told Greater Kashmir.

He said that IUST organizes a Business Festival annually to provide a platform for students to showcase their innovative ideas, products, and services.

“The event would enhance the visibility of our university, attracting interest from the public, customers, and media," Romshoo said.

He said that it is hoped that students would gain practical knowledge and skills, enhancing their entrepreneurial capabilities and helping them develop and scale up their ventures.

Afan, an MBA student who sold homemade food said, " We are receiving an overwhelming response and it is a wonderful experience".

Another student at a novel stall adorned with beautiful jewellery said that she wanted to promote the Kashmiri handmade jewellery.

"This jewellery made by the Kashmiri craftsmen has almost vanished over the years. I wanted to promote it by showcasing it at my stall", she said.

Dr Imran-ul-Amin, Assistant Professor at Department of Management Studies told Greater Kashmir that the fest was organised to provide hands-on training to the students by engaging them in several activities.

"The event served as a platform for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, promoting experiential learning and skill development", he said.