School Innovators Gain Hands-on Exposure at Smart India Hackathon (SIH)

Through an immersive visit to the SIH venue at Parul University, school students experienced real-world innovation workflows by bridging classroom learning with national-level problem-solving ecosystems and nurturing future-ready competencies such as design thinking, collaboration, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Why Early Exposure to Innovation Matters 

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) refers to an educational approach where learners develop knowledge and skills by working on real-world problems rather than memorising theoretical content.

Multiple peer-reviewed studies indicate that early engagement with PBL significantly improves reasoning ability, inquiry skills, and long-term problem-solving competence among students.

Source: Semantic Scholar

Reinforcing this belief, school students and young innovators from Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) were recently given a unique opportunity to witness innovation in action through an immersive visit to the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) venue hosted at Parul University.

As one of India’s most prominent platforms for collaborative problem-solving, SIH brings together students, mentors, and industry stakeholders to solve pressing national challenges. The visit was designed to introduce school students to this ecosystem early, helping them understand how ideas evolve into impactful solutions.

Bridging School Education with National Innovation Platforms

The primary objective of the visit was to familiarise school students with real-world problem-solving environments and encourage them to think beyond textbook learning. At the SIH venue, students observed how problem statements are framed, analysed, and addressed using structured methodologies.

Through direct interaction with participating teams and expert mentors, students gained valuable exposure to:

• Design thinking principles
• Team-based innovation
• Technology-enabled solution development
• Logical and analytical approaches to problem-solving

This hands-on exposure exposed them to the innovation process and showcased how creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking can together address societal and industry challenges.

Learning the Complete Solution Development Lifecycle

One of the most impactful aspects of the visit was students’ exposure to the entire innovation lifecycle from ideation to implementation. Rather than viewing innovation as a theoretical concept, students witnessed:

• Identification of real-world problems
• Brainstorming and ideation sessions
• Prototyping and iterative improvements
• Final solution presentation and validation

This practical understanding helps young learners appreciate that innovation is a process, requiring persistence, teamwork, and adaptability. Observing college-level innovators at work inspired students to envision themselves participating in similar national-level platforms in the future.

Inspiring Creativity, Curiosity, and Collaboration at an Early Age

Students from Billabong High International School, Reliance Foundation School-IPCL, New Era Secondary School, and Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya actively participated in the visit. Their enthusiastic engagement, thoughtful questions, and curiosity reflected a growing interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied learning among school communities.

Such exposure not only enhances technical awareness but also nurtures:

• Creative thinking
• Confidence in idea expression
• Collaborative learning habits
• Early entrepreneurial mindset

These are critical competencies for success in the rapidly evolving global knowledge economy.

Parul University became a Catalyst for Innovation-Led Learning

By hosting and facilitating access to national platforms like the Smart India Hackathon, Parul University continues to strengthen its role as a hub for innovation, research, and experiential learning. The university’s open and inclusive innovation ecosystem enables learners across age groups, from school students to university scholars, to engage with cutting-edge problem-solving environments.

Parul University’s commitment extends beyond academic instruction. Through initiatives like SIH exposure visits, the institution actively:

• Bridges the gap between school education and higher education innovation ecosystems
• Encourages early engagement with national missions and challenges
• Promotes hands-on, outcome-driven learning

Building India’s Future Innovation Ecosystem

The SIH school visit proved to be a highly enriching experience, leaving a lasting impression on young participants. Exposure to national-level innovation challenges at an early stage plays a vital role in shaping confident, solution-oriented individuals who are prepared to address real-world problems.

Initiatives like these contribute significantly to strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. Parul University’s proactive efforts in enabling such experiences reaffirm its position as an institution dedicated to academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact.