According to the NIFT website, non-NRI students spend approximately Rs 3 lakh for the two semesters of a school year.
Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal stated on Friday that he supports a halt on fee hikes at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Goyal noted at the convocation of NIFT Mumbai at the Kharghar node that the entire entrance process needs to be "replanned" so that students join on merit and are not questioned about their fee-paying ability.
Scholarships and Fees
Those who cannot afford the education will get scholarships which will also be increased, he highlighted. "I have asked the governing council to consider a freeze for some time on your fees," he said, addressing the graduating students at the campus here,"
However, it was unclear whether the plan is only for the Mumbai location or for all 18 of the institute's branches.
Rs 3 Lakh for Two Semesters
According to the NIFT website, non-NRI students spend approximately Rs 3 lakh for the two semesters of a college year. Goyal stated that the 35-year-old school also needs a makeover and vowed to meet with architect Hafeez Contractor to redesign the 10-acre campus.
Goyal promised students that the ministry would work more closely with industry for internships and placements, and that internships should be expanded to six months rather than the current eight weeks, and that students should be compensated for their efforts. "Over a period of time, there is a status quoism. I am hoping that today's visit will help shake the system a little bit," he remarked.
He also revealed that scholarships should be increased and that the entire admissions procedure, which currently takes six months, should be cut in half. The minister opted for a participatory convocation address rather than a written one, allowing him to learn about the students' requests firsthand.
After discovering that very few students pursue dual degrees by traveling to New York for a course at the Fashion Institute of Technology, he stated that the government of India will contemplate sending one student from each NIFT school to the United States. He stated that NIFT represents the best opportunity to strengthen India's soft skills, and that it needs all available assistance.
"Honestly to my mind India's soft skills will determine our future," the minister added, emphasizing that given their talent, industry should be going after talents at the institute. He encouraged the students to start their own businesses, become designers and establish their own labels, help safeguard traditional handicrafts, and contemplate becoming a writer to record and write about the Indian fashion scene.
*Image Source: Internet