Chandigarh, March 1:

Union Minister of Textiles, Mrs. Smriti Zubin Irani has launched Certificate Courses of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Panchkula through video conferencing. Also, the brochure of Certificate Course was released through video conferencing. The institute would have 20 percent seats reserved for students from Haryana.

Director General, Technical Education Department, Mr. A. Sreenivas said that total five certificate courses, which would be offered at NIFT, included Fashion Clothing and Technology, Design Development for Indian Ethnic Wear, Fashion and Media Communication, Textile for Interiors and Fashion, and Fashion Knitwear Production and Technology. The students possessing 10+2 (without any upper age limit) will be eligible to take admission in these programmes, he added.

He said that the foundation stone of NIFT campus Panchkula was also laid by Mrs. Smriti Zubin Irani on December 29, 2016. The NIFT campus is being built-up over 10.45 acres in sector 23 Panchkula with the State-of-the-Art Infrastructure equipped with modern professional resources for catering to the Textile, Handloom and Apparel Industry. The State Government has allocated a budget of Rs. 133 crore for establishment of NIFT Panchkula. The building of NIFT in Sector-23 Panchkula is under construction through Haryana Police Housing Corporation at full swing and is likely to be completed by December 2020.

He said that the aim of establishing NIFT is to develop Textile, Handloom and Cottage Industry in Haryana as well as the development of local area.

Mr. A. Sreenivas said that NIFT offers, at all its 16 campuses across the country, a learning experience of the highest standards in fashion pertaining to design, technology and management and encourages remarkably creative student body to draw inspiration from India’s textile and craft while focusing on emerging global trends relevant to the industries. Besides conducting regular professional undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Design, Management and Technology, NIFT also offers short duration courses under Continuing Education (CE).

He said that the Continuing Education Certificate Programmes are aimed at complementing the practical knowledge of industry professionals with formal technical education in their respective areas of work. The flexible schedule enables the participants to pursue the programme without interrupting their professional activities. With a focus on interactive learning, the CE programmes provide a congenial environment that integrates theory with practice, he added.

Those present on the occasion included Director, Technical Education Department, Mr. K.K. Kataria, Additional Director, Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal and other senior officers.