Design. Think. Innovate.
Organized by Faculty of Science & Technology, Vishwakarma University,
Pune
11th & 12th February 2026
The Faculty of Science &Technology at Vishwakarma University, Pune, organized a Distinguished International Expert Session on Design Thinking and Innovation on 11th and 12th February 2026 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The workshop was conducted under the Vishwakarma University – Binghamton University Center of Excellence for Design Thinking
and Innovation.
The session was led by Prof. Michael Testani, Director of the VU-BU Center of Excellence for Design Thinking and Innovation and Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, Binghamton University, New York, USA. His vast international experience in innovation, engineering design, and
applied research provided students with global exposure and practical insights into Design Thinking methodologies.
The workshop was coordinated by Prof. Maya Kurulekar (Head, Department of Engineering Sciences) and Prof. Mrunmai Ranade. It was convened by Prof. (Dr.) Kailas Patil, Dean,
Faculty of Science & Technology, and co-convened by Dr. Pavithra Nooji. Participation A total of 535 First-Year B.Tech students actively participated in the two-day workshop.
The students were divided into teams and worked collaboratively on 90 different problem statements aligned Based on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Impact of the Workshop

• Enhanced awareness about Sustainable Development Goals
• Improved teamwork, communication, and presentation skills
• Encouraged innovation mindset among first-year engineering students
• Provided international academic exposure through expert interaction
• Fostered practical problem-solving skills at an early stage of engineering education

The workshop successfully created an engaging learning environment that encouragedstudents to think beyond conventional classroom approaches. The active participation and prototype development by several groups highlighted the effectiveness of experiential learning through Design Thinking.