By Reneska Moodley
A vibrant energy filled The Restaurant Saveur d’Ebene at the Sir Gaetan Duval Hotel School in Ebene, Mauritius on May 24, 2024, as delegates from Mauritius and India gathered to launch a groundbreaking collaboration in fashion education. Esteemed dignitaries like Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, Deputy High Commissioner of the Indian High Commission to Mauritius, and the Honourable Ms. Naveena Ramyad, Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, graced the event.
They were joined by Dr. Sabrina Ramsamy Iranah, Director of the Academy of Design and Innovation, and Professor Dr. Sudha Dhingra, Dean of Academics at NIFT India. Representatives and board members from both the Academy of Design and Innovation and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) also participated.
The event culminated in the signing of a momentous agreement between the Academy of Design and Innovation and NIFT, marking a significant milestone in fashion education and collaboration between the two nations. Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, Deputy High Commissioner, addressed the gathering, expressing his enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential to cultivate global education and research. He emphasized the collaboration’s ability to enrich the academic landscape of both institutions and benefit not only the participating entities but also the countries they represent.
Dr. Sabrina Ramsamy Iranah, Director of the Academy of Design and Innovation, echoed Mr. Aryan’s sentiments. She highlighted the importance of the memorandum of agreement in fostering international cooperation and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and skills between Mauritius and India. Dr. Iranah stressed the critical role of design education in preparing students for the global marketplace and expressed her confidence in the future of the collaboration.
The signing ceremony was imbued with a spirit of camaraderie and shared vision, symbolizing a new chapter in the relationship between the two institutions. As representatives from both sides signed the agreement, a palpable sense of excitement filled the room regarding the possibilities that lay ahead. Both institutions reiterated their commitment to charting a course towards an innovative and globally integrated future, one that promises to benefit the academic community, industries, and the societies they serve.
As the ceremony concluded, participants exchanged congratulations and expressed their anticipation for the journey ahead. There is a shared confidence that the partnership between the Academy of Design and Innovation and NIFT India will pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries, collaborations, and opportunities in the realm of design and innovation.
