Whenever I interact with a fresh batch of students from various textile and fashion institutes, it not only disappoints me but I also feel a sense of frustration… How can a student, who has spent four years in a professional college, not know even the basics of practical application!
Just the other day, I was interviewing some youngsters for the organization and their naive responses to my very simple questions got me thinking… Are the institutes actually not doing a disservice to the students and the industry, by putting on blinkers and not evolving with time?
I have time and again stressed the importance of breeding industry-ready workforce…, whether they are from training institutes or fashion institutes like NIFT, Amity or Pearl. It is not important where they are going to work, but the level of understanding they have of the work expected from them, that is critical.
Sadly, most institutes do not spend enough time and energy on reviewing curriculums, nor do they encourage their faculty to be industry-informed. Teachers invariably move from year to year with the same notes and projects if undertaken are for personal enhancements and not for the benefit of learning. How many teachers from the fashion institutes are moving into the industry to update on what is happening… How many of them go to the shop floor to understand the issues and changes that are underway… How many take up industrial consultancy work… I know of none. To top it up, no external faculty is interested to teach as that the ‘pay’ is ‘uninspiring’ and not appropriately aligned to their credentials to warrant their time and experience.
With little understanding of what to expect when they step out into the real world, many students invariably opt out of the industry as they are unable to face ground realities and many take the ‘safe’ route of higher education, still clueless of what they want to do in life. We are wasting not only man-hours of teaching and national resources but also losing a generation because of the apathy of the education system which has failed to imbibe passion for the industry in the students.
Institutes which claim to be training students to work in the fashion and garment manufacturing segment are mushrooming by the day, I sometimes wonder what credibility these institutes have to prepare students for the industry where thousands enter the doors with starry eyes, but are soon disappointed. Even from the best of colleges only few pass-outs have the commitment to stick on and make a profession of their education.
Ironically, it is mostly the design students who seem to be serious about making a profession from their education, and most of them dream of either opening a boutique or having a personal label. Again that only reflects their lack of understanding of how the industry works and just how difficult it is to establish a brand… Why no one tells them that it is a very difficult and talent-driven industry and just by having a solid financial backing to open a store does not translate into business!
I often hear the industry’s frustration on the type of professionals being offered by the institutes and the difficulty they face in getting value from them. A commonly repeated phrase for the students coming from top fashion institutes is ‘they have arrogance, but little substance’. I have never understood why the industry does not take a more active role in supporting the institutes to formulate industry-appropriate curriculums… Why discussions and debates are not happening on how to groom professionals for the industry.
While debating on the subject with a professor from one of the leading institutes, I was made to believe that they are teaching students to adapt themselves to any industry segment like a humanities degree… How lame and what a waste of time, when the same can be achieved in three years and without the pretention of being a professional course…!
Just last month a team from my organization had gone to give an orientation programme to fresh design students at a fashion institute in the NCR and in one of the sessions, they had the students hooked and asking questions… why, because ground realities of the industry were being discussed. Students were keen to know about the profession, the job opportunities, the struggles and the passion that goes behind creating a garment.
Many thought that design studies was all about glamour and fun… one even admitted that the fact that fashion is linked to celebrities, was the biggest inspiration to get into the course… She claimed, she didn’t even know how to draw!
Students from the technical courses don’t want to work on the shop floor, and merchandising for most is actually a very clerical job, and not understanding the creative side of design interpretation and managing BOM… ‘We learnt the industry hands-on after regular college, now we are passionately involved… Why is the current generation that has the advantage of an industry course so unenthusiastic’…, is what most oldtimers of the industry have to say.
Is the problem with the teachers who don’t have any industry exposure, or is it the education system, or the type of students that the industry courses attract, or is it just the generation… The system of education for the industry has to change, there needs to be a partnership with the industry where students from day 1 are exposed to the realities and challenges? And for those who are keen to make a career from the industry bridge courses that clearly layout what the industry wants from them are also the need of the hour.
