Foreign faculties to teach NIFT students soon

Taking a cue from Human Resource Development Ministry, Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani has planned to start GIAN (Global Initiative of Academic Networks)-like programme to bring international faculty at country’s premier fashion institute-- National Institute of Fashion Technology.

The GIAN, a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a talent pool of eminent scholars from India and abroad to teach at centrally funded institutions of excellence in the country. 

The programme that was rolled out by Irani when she was at the helm of the HRD affairs has drew a huge success as noted faculties from abroad actively participated in the initiative.

“The GIAN-like programme is on the anvil, which would enable international academicians to come and teach at NIFT, New Delhi, at no extra cost to institute or student,” Irani said while addressing NIFT students on Tuesday.

While encouraging students to reflect on what they can leverage from textile industry, Irani said, “As like doctors, fashion professionals also deal with lives of common people every day. Only they can decide as to whether they would like to contribute to sub-sectors such as technical textiles, which are of strategic significance to national development.”

The GIAN, which is aimed at boosting quality of the country’s higher education institutes, was launched by Irani in December 2015. The HRD has allocated Rs 35 crore for GIAN for the current financial year. 

Under the scheme, 500 international faculties would be engaged this year and 1,000 in subsequent 

years to offer short-term courses and programs throughout India. These academicians would cover 13 disciplines and 352 courses to be taught in 68 national institutions.