NID's PG campus at Rs 19.5 cr

The National Institute of Design, which hogged the lime light recently for its role in the state government's Sabarmati Riverfront Project, has several plans in the pipeline for the year 2006. The most ambitious among all is PG Campus at Gandhinagar at the cost of Rs 19.5 crores.

The organization plans to stretch its wings by inaugrating the Bangalore Research Campus, the construction of which is completed, in February 2006. "Also in the pipeline is the PG Campus at Gandhinagar with an outlay of Rs 19.5 crores which would start in a month or two," according to Darlie O Koshy, Executive Director, NID.

The other expansion plan includes expanding Animation Film Making area by launching a major Animation Film Festival in October 2006 and a Styling and Design Conclave for Automobile on 14th January 2006 in Delhi in association with SIAM, Luxury Brand Conference in Mumbai on 13th-14th January 2006 in association with Hindustan Times, he further said.

Twinning Programmes in the areas of Strategic Design Management with Bocconi University, Italy and Joint Electives with IIM is also on the cards, he added.

Talking about privatization of education in Gujarat, Darlie said, "It has its limitations. Only meritocracy can actually deliver quality of education. As the Govt. disengages from areas like running business enterprises, it is necessary for the govt. to set up and nurture high quality educational institutions which are run on the basis of meritocracy. The mushrooming of the private institutions has not necessarily helped the cause of education and I am not very positive about such a step."

NID's Integrated Design Services have been widely acclaimed as having succeeded in not only reducing dependence on Government for revenue expenditure but also in transforming many products and services thus aiding the use of strategic design, he claimed.

"The design promotional efforts of NID have helped creating a congenial climate for design in the country over the last five years. Through focused PG Programmes and research-led education, NID now serves sector specific requirements for design professionals," he said.

Gujarat, according to Darlie, is a state with entrepreneurial and trading culture. "Education has been perceived from this perspective though the state is lucky to have some of the best known national institutions in the country. Topping different professional exams reflects more than the quality of education the aggressive ambition, in that direction coupled with the students' focused preparation and exposure," he said.

On the academic front, NID is launching a joint certificate programme between NID and Bocconi University, Milan and discussion is on with M/s Titan Industries and in-principle approval has been accorded to launch a Lifestyle Design Research Chair in NID's Research Campus, Bangalore.

Ahmedabad will continue to be the Head Quarters of NID with focus on under-graduate programme, consultancy, outreach and design gallery, National Design Business Incubator, International Centre for Indian Crafts and hub of all major educational initiatives.