National Institute of Fashion Technology was set up in the year 1986 under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Since its inception, NIFT has set a benchmark in fashion education, emerging as a premier institute of design, management and technology. Through a network of 17 professionally managed campuses, NIFT sets academic standards and excels in thought leadership with its unique integration of creative genius with technological competence. The NIFT Act 2006 has empowered the institute to award degrees and other academic distinctions.
The Convocation of National Institute of Fashion Technology – New Delhi Campus was held on 12th November, 2021 at the campus of NIFT – Delhi. In an impressive ceremony the Chief Guest, Shri Piyush, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution awarded Degrees to the graduating students of the Class of 2021. Smt. Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Railways and Textiles was the Guest of Honour. Shri. Upendra Prasad Singh, IAS, Secretary – Textiles was the Special Guest. The ceremony took place in the august presence of distinguished members from Board of Governors, NIFT, leaders from the Indian fashion industry, faculty members and alumni of NIFT.
In the Welcome Address, while highlighting NIFT’s contributions to the development of fashion education and industry in India, Ms. Manisha Kinnu, IRS, Director – NIFT, Delhi Campus stated that the Institute is committed to providing a stimulating environment that allows the students to learn and develop. She congratulated the students on the successful completion of their Degrees.
She further apprised 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 more than 30 MOUs with foreign fashion schools for student and faculty exchange, conferences, seminars and exhibitions. Ms. Kinnu while presenting the Annual Academic Report, recounted the journey of NIFT Delhi through expansion, extension and benchmarking in fashion education, with special focus over the last one year.
During the ongoing pandemic, the institute has embraced newer ways of teaching and learning, ensuring the best for the students even in these testing times. The Campus has warmed up to online teaching mode and the faculty members have demonstrated superlative efforts so that the students could reach their full potential from the confines of their homes. The NIFT academic curriculum incorporates internships, industry visits, outbound programmes as well as real life projects, seminars and interactions that 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. Students get the opportunity to work in stimulating environment with industry projects focusing on integrative abilities that use skills ranking from technical expertise to creative exposure. NIFT faculty constantly strive for self-improvement and mental growth through academic and industry projects, completing various R&D projects this year. One such project, namely, ‘India Size’, currently entails the national sizing survey of India.
Leading publications, India Today and Outlook have ranked NIFT – Delhi as the topmost fashion design institute in India. In a global tally, in CEO World listing of top 110 fashion schools, NIFT – Delhi Campus has bagged the ninth ranking.
Faculty also give priority to research paper publication and enhancing skills and qualification. This year, as part of research initiatives, 3 Ph.D. degrees have been awarded in the fields of Design, Management and Technology. In one of the recent most research endeavours, NIFT – Delhi has created and patented Intelligent Skill Mapping and Rating Technology (i-SMART), which is the world’s first and only technology that evaluates the skill of a sewing machine operator.
As an attempt to inculcate social awareness, the Craft Cluster Project has been incorporated 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.
Ms. Manisha Kinnu thereafter in her Address called upon the students to uphold the tradition of excellence inculcated in NIFT while they carve out brilliant careers for themselves in their chosen fields. In her address she also added that growth in research and development in NIFT is vital in order to compete and collaborate with international institutions. She also urged the industry members to set up of research labs and sponsored chairs in collaboration with the Institute.
Prof. Dr. Prabir Jana, then administered the pledge to the students.
In the Convocation Address, the Chief Guest, Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution congratulated NIFT for the progress it is making through the embracement of technology in many of its day-to-day functions as well as at the critical functions, such as student admission process, academic management process and industry engagement process. He also called upon NIFT’s faculty members to infuse values, professional ethics,
Indian sensibilities and responsibilities among students.
In all, 336 graduates of 10 streams of study from Delhi Campus were awarded Degrees.
