core sector communique

Anand Sharma Chairs 17th Convocation of National Institute of Fashion Technology
NIFT Gains International Profile with Global tie ups

Shri Anand Sharma the Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles has asked fresh graduates of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to embrace the traditional knowledge of design in their work and keep their connect with ethics and ethos alive. “Our country is a rich nation in terms of tradition and old practices of design NIFT students and faculty have to adopt and take this forwarded as a responsibility” he said at the convocation ceremony at the NIFT. The Minister congratulated the NIFT for completing 25 years. The fresh batch of graduates and post-graduates from class of 2011 were awarded Degrees in the Convocation Ceremony by the Textiles Minister. Board of Governors of NIFT and distinguished experts from the industry were also present on the occasion. Shri Sharma said that, Indian fashion Industry is still evolving but surely it has made its mark. “It has been a long journey and need is to keep creating hopes and harvesting dreams”. Minister lauded NIFT efforts is preserving and propagating the traditional arts and crafts of India at local and regional level.

Ms. Monika S. Garg the Direct General of NIFT while addressing the gathering said that, “NIFT is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promises an approach of knowledge transfer, here academic strategy embraces internationalism and facilitate an invigorating thought- process which is multidisciplinary and dynamic.” She informed that, this year in the presence of the Prime Ministers of both the countries at Dhaka, NIFT entered into an association with BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangladesh for collaboration in various areas based on building specific professional competencies. We are confident that this endeavour will identify placement & job opportunities for NIFTians in Bangladesh. The institute this year has enhanced the international visibility and standing. NIFT has entered into a strategic alliance with the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA in the form of Dual Degree. Our strategy seeks to realize the opportunities to find the better placement options for the students in India and overseas.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is the premier institute of fashion education in India under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Today, NIFT has fifteen Centers in India. Since 1987 it has produced designers and fashion entrepreneurs who have shaped the Indian fashion industry into a global leader. The Director General also appraised the gathering that over the last few years NIFT has undertaken strategic steps to forge international linkages with International schools of repute. Currently, NIFT has over 30 MOUs with foreign fashion schools for student & faculty exchange, conferences, seminars and exhibitions. In 2011, existing MoUs have been reviewed. 4 new ones have been signed with international institutes like Fashion Institute of Technology, New York; BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangladesh; University of Wolverhampton, UK and Royal Academy of Arts, the Hague. NIFT has also entered into a MoU with the Textile Committee to increase the knowledge base of its faculty, students and research scholars. As part of this agreement, facilities like library, publications, laboratories etc are made available by the Textile Committee to NIFT for research purposes. Ms.Monika S. Garg, Director General, NIFT, while presenting the annual Academic Report, recounted the journey of NIFT through expansion, extension and benchmarking in fashion education.

As per NIFT policy after completion of 4 years the complete curriculum is reviewed incorporating views from industry and alumni. Accordingly, an elaborate and intensive exercise of peer and industry review of the curriculum of their respective departments was carried out by the Chairpersons in January, 2011. Two day workshops were organized for each discipline in NIFT Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar, in which peer institutes, industry members, NIFT alumni and faculty participated. The focus was on dynamic and emerging needs of the industry and future trends. The new curriculum has been implemented w.e.f. July 2011 onwards.

Built into the academic curriculum are internship, industry visits, outbound programmes as well as real life projects, seminars and interactions which provide opportunities for students to appreciate and understand the working of the industry. The institute also undertakes research and consultancy projects for the industry with its expertise in Design, Management and Technology at strategic and operational levels. The students get the opportunity to work in stimulating environment with industry projects focusing on integrative abilities that use skills ranging from technical expertise to creative exposure.

As an attempt to inculcate social awareness, the Craft Cluster Project has been woven into the Academic Calendar. Understanding the social responsibility towards this sector, the NIFT students continue to contribute to the clusters through design intervention and product diversification.

In all, 1492 graduates of from ten streams of study and from nine Centers of NIFT were awarded Degrees. Hon`ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles Shri Anand Sharma delivered the convocation address. The Hon’ble Minister called upon the students to uphold the tradition of excellence inculcated in NIFT while they carved out brilliant careers for themselves in their chosen fields.

Shri Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, Board of Governors of NIFT addressed the gathering and congratulated the graduating students.

Sr. Prof. Banhi Jha, Dean (Academic) presented the Vote of Thanks.