In a significant development, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) has been recognised as a ‘Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Government of India in the field of skilling ecosystem in the country.
An official Gazette Notification has been issued by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in this regard. The recognition shall be initially valid for five years and comes following thorough scrutiny of the Institute on several parameters by the ministry.
According to the guidelines for recognition of CoE issued by MSDE, a Centre of Excellence is a body that provides leadership, best practices, research and development support, training of trainers and skill training for specific sectors with a specific focus on emerging technologies. It means a BODY where the highest standards are maintained.
EDII has been recognised as a CoE in the skilling ecosystem for being a one-stop national resource centre working in collaborative mode with industry, academia and governments to impart training & competencies to ensure enhanced incidences of new enterprise creation & employability, address emerging skill gaps, and undertake research leading to interventions that match industry needs
Announcing the development, EDII Director-General, Dr Sunil Shukla said, “It’s a matter of immense pride that EDII has been recognised as the Centre of Excellence by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. EDII introduced the concept of entrepreneurship development and established how entrepreneurship can be learnt like any other academic discipline to set up own business.
Against the backdrop that skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development for India, and in view of the changing global scenario, the Institute has targeted varied sectors and sections of society to ensure wholesome economic growth on the premise of entrepreneurship.”
On 15th November 2021, the Rwanda- India Entrepreneurship Development Centre was inaugurated in Kigali, Rwanda at the hands of Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan.
The Centre has been established by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), under an agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India. This is the sixth international ED centre set up by EDII. Before this, the Institute has also set up Centres in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
Director-General, EDII informed, “To maintain the highest standards of entrepreneurial excellence, the Centre will primarily instil entrepreneurial culture amongst indigenous entrepreneurs, and equip them with adequate knowledge and experience; undertake entrepreneurship education, training and business advisory services; ensure policy advocacy & formulation, and sensitize and train the support system officials, thus ensuring that a conducive business environment is created for emergence, sustenance and growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Rwanda.”
In order to ensure sustenance of entrepreneurship development activities, the Institute will also institutionalize a cadre of competent trainer-motivators and business counsellors and influence policy making process at the national and provincial levels to float policies that are entrepreneur- friendly.
Post inauguration and placement of Advisor at the Centre, by EDII, the first New Enterprise Creation programme was launched in Kigali on 16th November. 30 potential entrepreneurs are attending this 18-day programme. Simultaneously, EDII team in Rwanda is conducting Business Opportunity Identification Exercise and are developing at least 50 to 70 project profiles suited to local requirements and conditions.
About EDII
The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad was set up in 1983 as an autonomous and not-for-profit Institute with support of apex financial institutions – the IDBI Bank Ltd., IFCI Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd. and State Bank of India (SBI). The Government of Gujarat pledged twenty- three acres of land on which stands the majestic and sprawling EDII Campus.
The Institute conducts a variety of programmes and projects under the Departments of Policy Advocacy, Knowledge and Research, Entrepreneurship Education; Projects; Business Development Services & National Outreach and Developing Economy Engagement. Institute’s Technology Incubation Centre, CrAdLE (Centre for Advancing and Launching Enterprises) set up with the support of Department of Science and Technology,
Govt. of India, is focused on incubating start-ups in the potential areas of food/agri business, renewable energy and healthcare. Thus, EDII is the first national resource institute in entrepreneurship training, research, education and institution building.
The Institute has earned regional, national and international recognition for boosting entrepreneurship and the start-ups across segments and sectors through innovative models and by intermediating creatively among stakeholders such as; new age potential entrepreneurs, existing entrepreneurs, incubation centres, and venture capitalists.