Bengaluru: The Council of Architecture Training & Research Centre (COA-TRC), Pune, in collaboration with BMS College of Architecture, Design & Planning (BMSCA D&P), Bengaluru, is set to organize a five-day offline Faculty Development Program (FDP) titled “Startup Studio: Fostering an Entrepreneurial Culture in the Institutional Ecosystem” from 13–17 July 2026. The programme is being conducted under the COA-TRC Teachers Training Program (TTP) and aims to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, and startup-oriented approaches within architecture and design education.

The FDP seeks to introduce participants to startup ecosystems, design-led innovation, and entrepreneurial problem-solving while equipping faculty members and young professionals with mentorship skills. The programme is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by encouraging innovation-driven teaching methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry-oriented engagement.
The programme is convened by Prof. Jayashree Deshpande, Director, COA-TRC, Pune, and coordinated by Dr. Vidya Srikanth, Director, BMS College of Architecture, Design & Planning, Bengaluru. It will feature a diverse panel of experts from academia, industry, startup ecosystems, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship.
The five-day schedule includes sessions on:
- Entrepreneurial Mindset and Ecosystem
- Innovation, Ideation and Design Thinking
- Government Support and Incubation
- Start-up Practice and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
- Finance, Entrepreneurship and Scaling
Key speakers include professionals and educators such as Mr. Sekhar Doraswamy, Co-Founder of Strategy Garage; Mr. Suryanarayanan, CEO of DERBI Foundation; Ar. Rakesh Kodoth, Co-founder of Dialogue Design Partners; Dr. Rama R. Subramanian, Professor at DSCA; Prof. Vasanth K. Bath, Mentor at Design Hub; and several other experts from architecture, design, technology, and business sectors.
The FDP will be held at BMS College of Architecture, Design & Planning, Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru, with daily sessions scheduled from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. An End of Programme Test (EoPT) will be conducted on the final day. Participants who successfully complete all sessions, assignments, assessments, and feedback requirements will receive a certificate of completion.
The programme is open to faculty members and practicing architects, while students are not eligible to participate. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with the last date for registration being 9 July 2026.
By integrating entrepreneurship with architectural and design education, the initiative aims to nurture a culture of innovation and empower educators to guide future professionals toward startup-driven and industry-responsive career pathways.
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