Fashion institutes stretch placements

If last year it was rupee appreciation that took a toll on placements at textile and fashion institutes, it is the economic slowdown this year that has forced them to adopt damage control measures. Institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology and National Institute of Design have been forced to stretch placements in two phases spanning close to six months.

For instance, unlike in 2008 when NIFT had held single leg placements around March, this year the institute is conducting it in two phases. While the first phase of placements is over, the second phase is likely to get completed by June 15, said Prabir Jana, head-industry at NIFT. The institute conducts centralised placements for all of its centres wherein a student can appear for placements at any of the centre across the country.

At NID too, 75 per cent of the students were placed in the placement period between December and January. The premier institute saw companies like Hyundai visiting its campus for the first time this year. “There are some companies like Hyundai and Honda which will come back to recruit students once the new financial year begins in April. Niche companies like IBM, Nokia, General Motors and Maruti have hired students, but unlike last year when each company would recruit seven or eight, this time around the recruiters have been able to absorb only two per company,” said Sujitha Nair at NID.