Vocational degree in fashion technology gaining popularity

Tirupati: The Bachelor of Vocational (B.Voc) degree in Fashion Technology and Apparel Designing ( FTAD) course offered by Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) has been empowering students with skill training and making them to secure suitable jobs.

The course was designed in such a way that the students of the course will have one-week compulsory internship programme in each semester with last semester will have three months internship. This enables the students to know the field realities, the latest trends and fashions in the market and shape them to mould accordingly.

The university has been offering a three-year undergraduate course with 50 seats with multi-level entry and exit options for which students of any group in Intermediate with 45 per cent marks are eligible. University Grants Commission (UGC) has recognised the course and grant was also sanctioned by it. Students by completing I semester can get certificate and diploma at the end of II semester. 

Advanced Diploma will be given to those, who complete IV semester. After the completion of VI semester, degree in B.Voc FTAD will be awarded. Those who completed Polytechnic course with garment technology as specialisation can get direct entry into 2ndyear of B.Voc course. Students were showing interest to join in the course as it will be very useful in their future, observed the course coordinator Prof D Sarada.

She told The Hans India that the students after completion of the course are eligible to undergo postgraduate programmes in MSc Textiles & Clothing, MSc Apparel Technology & Management and such other similar courses. Students were having laboratory facilities both on and off campus and the university has linkages with apparel and textile Industries and institutions. She also said that the services of experts in the field of fashion technology and apparel designing were being utilised as guest faculty. 

University has procured the required equipment to train the students with UGC grant and going to buy Juki machine now. The students of the course have conducted about six fashion shows. Red FM station also organised a show with these students. The second batch students were now in internship during their last semester. Brandix India of Visakhapatnam has provided internship to nine students, soft toys industry of Nagari in Chittoor district took six students. 

Riviera Creations, Texport Syndicate Limited, Sai Apparels, F.Com India – all belongs to Bengaluru and apparel unit of Apollo Total health Summit in Chittoor district have provided internship to the remaining students. The students can get job opportunities in textile and apparel industries. They were also empowered to become entrepreneurs with financial support from banks and other institutions, Prof Sarada said. This year, the University will be starting two year M.Voc FTAD course with 20 seats, she said.

By V Pradeep Kumar