Reinventing Education

Reflections on the Circle Incubation Conference in Mumbai

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Circle Incubation Conference in Mumbai, a melting pot of innovation, creativity, and collaboration with 30 invitees from all over India and beyond. Day 1 began with a diverse group of participants, ranging from those who traveled 15 minutes to those who endured 15-hour flights, all united by a common goal: to reinvent education, school by school. The conference brought together passionate edupreneurs, educators, and thought leaders, eager to share their experiences and bring their ideas to life.

“Schools are preparing kids for the India that no longer exists.” - Sandeep Rai

For me, the conference was a whirlwind of networking, panel discussions with Shaheen Mistri, a lunch date with Saurabh Taneja, and smaller conversations focused on reinventing education. One of the highlights was the emphasis on hyper-local, scalable solutions, which aligns perfectly with my vision for educational reinvention.

My Proposal: Afterschool Mobile Makerspace

At the conference, I presented my proposal for reinventing education through “learning by doing.” My project, an afterschool mobile makerspace, is something I’ve been deeply passionate about. Inspired by the #EveryoneCanMake movement and the Fab Foundation’s “How to Make (almost) anything” course, the idea is simple yet powerful: to bring the essential tools and resources of a modern makerspace directly to schools, especially those in underserved communities.

Equipped with a 3D printer, laser cutter, CNC router, vinyl cutter, and simple electronics like the BBC micro:bit, the mobile makerspace offers hands-on learning experiences that go beyond the traditional classroom setting. My mission is to provide students with the opportunity to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in an engaging and interactive way. By bringing the makerspace to them, I aim to break down barriers and make high-quality educational resources accessible to all.

The Conference Experience

The feedback I received at the conference was overwhelmingly positive. Listening to other invitees share their experiences with similar projects and offer valuable advice on how to scale and improve the initiative was incredibly inspiring. It was heartening to see so many people committed to transforming education and making a difference in students’ lives.

One of the key takeaways from the conference was the importance of collaboration. Whether it’s partnering with local schools, finding a cofounder, or working with organizations and fellow entrepreneurs, collaboration is crucial to the success of any project. I left Mumbai with a renewed sense of purpose and a network of new connections that I’m excited to collaborate with in the future.

Looking Ahead

As I reflect on the Circle Incubation Conference, I’m filled with optimism for the future of my afterschool mobile makerspace. The support and encouragement I received have reaffirmed my belief in the project and its potential impact.

Moving forward, I plan to refine my proposal based on the insights gained at the conference and continue to seek out partnerships that can help bring this vision to life. The journey is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

Sayed Mohammad Shoeb Keshar Mokha Aamina Rahim