In what could be termed as a path-breaking initiative, the Bannari Amman Institute of Technology (BIT), Sathyamangalam, has signed a collaborative teaching-learning agreement with the New Zealand Institute of Fashion Technology (NZ Fashion Tech), an accredited institution of the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA) in the field of fashion, garments and accessories manufacturing. The two signed an MoU last year aimed at setting the common objective of sharing the resources between the two for enhancing the teaching-learning process.
BIT offers degree programmes in fashion and textile technology at under-graduate and post-graduate levels, accredited by AICTE, New Delhi.
Brooker Foundation, an independent education development service provider from New Zealand, helped facilitate the collaborative initiative between BIT and NZ Fashion Tech. As part of the initiative a batch of 20 students from New Zealand who arrived in BIT on November 14 has undergone training for 35 days. These students left India on December 19, 2015.
Another highlight of the collaborative effort is that the students have been offered scholarships to visit BIT by none other than the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr. John Key, himself, who has shown keen interest in the project.
At a glittering fashion show – ‘BANEWZ ‘15’, the collections crafted by the New Zealand students, including those made from silk sarees, were showcased on December 17. While Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, MP, New Zealand, was the Guest of Honor on the occasion, Mr. K. Arumugam, Managing Director of Chennai Silks, was the Chief Guest. Dr. M.P. Vijayakumar, Trustee & Director, BIT, presided over it.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bakshi expressed the hope that this initiative would further strengthen the strong bonds between New Zealand and India.
Mr. Giles Brooker, Chairman, Giles Brooker Group, said foundations for a long-term relationship have been laid through this collaboration which is expected to expand further in every possible avenue in the future.
The students from New Zealand well appreciated the facilities and staff at BIT. The first batch of 15 students from NZ Fashion Tech had stayed in BIT for five weeks in 2014. This time around the students had undertaken visits to various industries like spinning, weaving, processing, knitting and garments making. They had also made visits to places such as Tanjore, Mysore and Ooty, gaining valuable insights into the socio-cultural environment and values prevailing in India.
Another highlight of their stay in India was a visit to Dhoddamapalayam, a small hamlet near Sathyamangalam, well known as a manufacturing centre of handloom silk sarees. The students got silk sarees from Dhoddamapalayam and used their design expertise to convert them into eye-catching Western outfits in the laboratories of the Fashion Technology Department of BIT.
Story & Pictures by M.K. Prabhakar & Mohan Raj