NID's foreign designs

The National Institute of Design (NID), which could become a deemed university under the National Design Policy, is now planning to introduce new courses in collaboration with foreign universities.

The institute is in the process of finalising a Post Graduate level Programme in Creative Photography with Farnham University, UK.

The institute's Toy and Game Design Department is also planning to launch a new Game Design Certificate course in association with George Brown College, Canada. Collaborative research programmes are in process with Ontario College of Art and Design.

This was revealed by Darlie Koshy, Director, NID during the institute's 28th convocation where 185 undergraduate and post graduate students graduated this year from various disciplines.

NID has upped its international linkages and exchange programmes this year on the back of recognition by a leading US magazine as one of the top design schools of 2006 and 2007. The number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have gone up from 23 to 30.

This has also led to the increase in the number of foreign students coming on campus. There are 9 foreign students on campus while 22 of NID's students have gone to Germany, Italy and Australia.

Three of the institute's Transportation and Automobile students would shortly be joining the Domus Academy, Milan as part of a collaborating programme launched by NID.

Emphasising on creation of original designs and acceleration of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) registrations by faculty and students, Koshy said that over 44 selected innovations have been submitted for Design Registration this year.

At the Design Vision centre, over 600 prototypes have made till now including 120 prototypes during the current year.

To tackle the faculty exodus and train current faculty members, the institute has set up a Faculty Development Centre. Further, seven faculty members have enrolled for a PhD this year.

In the absence of Arun Firodia, chairman of the Kinetic Group, who had agreed to be the main convocation speaker, his wife, Jayshree Firodia presided over the event.