At REVA University, every new milestone is a step toward a larger purpose—building a community of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders who create impact beyond classrooms. A few days ago, we marked one such milestone by partnering with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi for GUESSS India (Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey).
This collaboration places REVA University within a prestigious global network of 57 countries participating in the international GUESSS project. By joining hands with IIT Mandi, we are contributing to the nation’s largest student entrepreneurship research initiative—one that seeks to understand and nurture the entrepreneurial ambitions of students across India. As part of this endeavor, over 100 podcasts are planned featuring student entrepreneurs, mentors, researchers, experts, and policy makers to enrich the dialogue on entrepreneurship.
At the heart of REVA’s philosophy lies our strategic statement—Educate to Enterprise. For us, enterprise is not confined to the idea of launching startups. It is about cultivating a mindset where every student—whether an engineer, architect, artist, psychologist, or lawyer—thinks and acts with entrepreneurial agility.
The world does not merely need more entrepreneurs; it needs entrepreneurial thinkers—people who can adapt, innovate, and solve problems with resilience and creativity. That is why Educate to Enterprise goes beyond degrees. It is about nurturing leaders who dare to create, innovators who challenge the status quo, and problem-solvers who can lead change across industries and communities.
Our Chancellor, Dr. P. Shyama Raju, has always emphasised the need to create job providers, not just job seekers. His vision aligns perfectly with the spirit of GUESSS India. By equipping students with entrepreneurial thinking, REVA University seeks to transform education into a platform that empowers young people to design their own futures—and in turn, create opportunities for others.
This partnership with IIT Mandi is a decisive step in realising that vision, as the insights from GUESSS will not only guide our students but also inform ecosystem enablers and policymakers in strengthening India’s entrepreneurial culture.
GUESSS India is spearheaded by Dr. Puran Singh, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance at the School of Management, IIT Mandi. He serves as the Country Head of GUESSS India and has played a pioneering role in shaping student entrepreneurship in the Himalayan region.
Dr. Singh is the founding Faculty Incharge of IIT Mandi Catalyst, one of India’s emerging technology business incubators. With experience as the ex-Director of Incubation, his contributions extend to serving on the Governing Body of ISBA and being an active member of CII’s Northern Region Committee on Entrepreneurship. His leadership brings immense credibility to this project and strengthens its reach across the nation.
The scale of GUESSS India makes it a landmark initiative. In its maiden 2023 edition, it surveyed 13,896 students across 1,298 institutions in 31 states and UTs—a sweeping study that shed light on students’ career intentions, entrepreneurial aspirations, and perceptions of support within their universities.
The objectives of GUESSS India are ambitious yet vital:
By aligning with such a significant initiative, REVA University is positioning itself as a driver of transformation - encouraging our students not just to learn, but to lead, innovate, and build.
This partnership is more than a collaboration; it is a commitment. A commitment to creating an ecosystem where bold ideas thrive, resilient execution is celebrated, and ventures that move the nation forward are born.
At REVA University, we believe that entrepreneurship is the force that can turn visions into ventures, and ventures into nation-building movements. By embracing the GUESSS India initiative with IIT Mandi, we reaffirm our role in shaping a future where every REVAite leaves campus not only with a degree but with an enterprising mindset. Because the true essence of Educate to Enterprise lies not in producing graduates alone—but in nurturing global citizens who dare to create, innovate, and lead for the well-being of all.
