• Source:JND
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XLRI, the first B-school in India founded in the year 1949, has announced its new alliance which is INDEA a finishing school for automobile design. This new finishing school will mark the beginning of a new era of automobile designing in India. This path-breaking pioneering initiative is a coordination with XLRI alumnus and an expert of automobile industry Avik Chattopadhyay.

Dr. Fr K. S. Casimir, the Director of XLRI – Delhi-NCR campus stated that his XLRI understands the importance of supporting the greater good wholeheartedly as India seeks to become one of the 5 design hubs of the world. The program fits in perfectly into the scheme of things espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who aims at India becoming a global car design hub.

Dr. Casimir offered the observation that while there may be schools of design in India that have students of a level capable of producing designers of note there seems to be a serious lack of such individuals. He underscores issues of, among others, the absence of industry interface, the inimicality to modern teaching, the inadequacy of the faculties, and the inability to invest in the latest gadgets and software. One of XLRI’s key goals will be to apply the experience and expertise in the industry relation and curriculum development to that theoretical knowledge can be translated into the practical and applicable one.

Avik Chattopadhyay, a legend of automotive industry and an ex-XLRI, emphasized very compellingly the necessity of establishing a state-of –the-art design school at a time when automobile Industry being a major sector contributes a lot towards the economic development of our country. As for clean energy, evolving consumer behavior and circular sustainability, Chattopadhyay considered INDEA as a factor's that business strategy was essentially made up from. He showed with outright expressions his pleasure that XLRI had shared the same vision and was looking forward to develop INDEA in a collaborative effort of XLRI and himself with a combined aim to cater to both, the market's and nation's requirements.

INDEA's foundation will rest on three pillars: networking and industrial case studies, integrating past knowledge with intuitive thinking, global thinking and hands-on approach. As the school will invite some of the best and the most respected designers of the world, and considering the global perspective that they will bring into the automobile design education, the traditional teaching process will be greatly enhanced.