Footwear designing would be an interesting and promising career for those who have a flair for designing. Footwear Design and Development Institute is an ‘institution of national importance’ under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This premier institute that was established in 1986 has been training experts in footwear designing, production and marketing. (FDDI: Footwear Design and Development Institute, A – 10/A, Sector – 24, NOIDA – 201301. Phone – 0120 4500203; admissions@fddiindia.com, www.fddiindia.com).
Besides the main campus in Noida, FDDI has 12 centres in all the major cities including Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. However, the institute has no campus in Kerala. Phone number of the Chennai centre: 9442352912
The major program
a) 4 year BDes (Bachelor of Design): Footwear Design and Production/ Leather Goods and Accessories Design/ Fashion Design
b) 3 year BBA: Retail and Fashion Merchandise
c) 2 year MDes: Footwear Design and Production
d) 2 year MBA: Retail and Fashion Merchandise.
There are around 2160 seats up for grabs in 12 centres. Besides, there is an additional 216 seats allotted to NRI / foreigner/ Industry sponsored quota. However, not all programs are available in all the centres. Applicants of Scheduled Caste and Tribe communities, Backward Castes, Economically Weaker Sections and persons with disabilities would get reservation up to 15, 7.5, 27, 10 and 3% respectively.
Those who have passed plus two, majoring in any subjects or 3-year engineering diploma graduates can apply to the Bachelor’s programs. Even though a graduate degree in any subject is enough for applying for the MBA course, the applicants need a degree in specific subjects in order to apply for the MDes courses. Those who are writing the final exams of their qualifying degrees too can apply. They, however, need to submit the results within 30 September, if selected.
The candidates who apply for the Bachelor’s courses shouldn’t cross 25 years as on 1 July 2022. Meanwhile, there is no age limitation for the Master’s degrees. The prospectus is available in the website.
The last date for online application is 28 April. There is a registration fee of Rs 600. Applicants from the Scheduled categories and persons with disabilities need to pay only Rs 300. Meanwhile, applications could be submitted until 15 May by paying a late fee of Rs 800. This is Rs 400 for applicants of Scheduled categories and persons with disabilities.
The national level selection test would be held in 31 centres around the country including Kochi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune and Delhi. The test is scheduled on 19 June. There will be 150 objective type questions in the test for admission to the Bachelor’s courses. Meanwhile, there will be 175 questions for the Master’s courses.
Applicants to the Master’s courses who have MAT scores need not write the selection test. Those who score higher ranks would be admitted to the respective courses after counselling. The selected candidates should join the institute on 16 August.