In support of the new accredited Fashion & Design College opening this month January 2017, I met with Billa Bhandari Chief Operating Officer to discuss the new college opening and how this exciting opening supports the vision of making Dubai the ‘fashion hub’ of the world by 2021.
The new college opening is an exciting venture for Dubai attracting future talent to Dubai and helping make Dubai the fashion destination of choice for education and the fashion and retail market.
During an exclusive peek into the new college and its amazing start-of-the art facilities we discussed the impact on the opening of the college for the Fashion & Retail sector and what an exciting opportunity this is for fashion students internationally.
“CFD’s has a strong belief in access to education for all, CFD will be offering an outstanding generous ‘Half a Million Dirhams’ of scholarships, available to applicants within its first year alone.”
The College of Fashion and Design (CFD) is set to hone future faces of the Fashion and Design industry, establishing the Middle East as a ‘fashion hub’ by 2021 located in Dubai earned Accreditation on 1st November 2016 through the Commission of Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education Affairs, UAE.
“We have established partnerships with leading fashion institutions, including the renowned Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano (NABA), Italy; fashion industries, designers and entrepreneurs, CFD will continue to be specifically sought to enable students to enjoy international exposure and enhance employability in a global society”
The CFD is the first focused Fashion Business Management and Fashion Design College to receive local accreditation from the UAE Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, with the first day of the academic semester set to start on January 9th 2017. Offering Bathelors in Fashion Design, Bachelor in Fashion Management and Diploma in Fashion & Design. Located in Business Bay.
Echoing the CFD’s mantra to support the education mandate and local community within the UAE and following the American academic credit system, the CFD curriculum follows a rigorous academic framework designed to impart global perspective and artistic flair into professional mannerism. CFD boasts world-class infrastructure and facilities; state-of-the-art technology, multi-cultural student base, a Fashion Incubation Centre, and business development program set to support the next generation of fashion and design graduates in the UAE.
According to the MENA 2016 Design Education Outlook Report, an estimated 30,000 design graduates are needed in the MENA region by 2019, to achieve growth projections in a self-sustainable manner, i.e. without importing skills from outside the region and this would require a nine-fold increase in the number of design graduates in the region. With enrolment starting from November 2016, the college will give its students a complete insight into fashion and design industries.
CFD will offer a unique set of interdisciplinary programs, placing fashion and design in a contemporary, global context. The degree and non degree programs represent their commitment to provide talented fashion and design students with the professional training and contextual understanding they need in order to excel in todays employment market, and in the future of fashion and design.
Students at CFD are classified into two broad categories, Bachelor students and Diploma students.
The Bachelor in Fashion Design (BFD), this four-year long BDFD equips learners with industry insights, giving students first-hand experience in garment construction, textiles, draping and computer aided design to create an apparel collection. The Bachelor in Fashion Business Management (BFBM), this four-year long BFBM curriculum help students obtain an understanding of textiles, quality demands, merchandising, and also assimilate the application of marketing, retailing, financial and other business practices.
Alternatively students can opt to complete the first two years of BFD resulting in the award of a Diploma in Fashion & Design. Non-degree students can be placed in any of the Bridge Programs; Elementary Fashion Program (FPrep) and Basic English, for upgrading knowledge and skills for personal interest or for transferring to degree programs.
Examples of Career Pathways for CFD Graduates include:
Fashion Design • Fashion Styling • Visual Merchandising • Brand Manager • Product Designer • Business Management • Brand Management • Strategic Marketing • Retail Management •Public Relations • Buying & Merchandising • Stylist • Fashion Publication Editor • Retail Management • Fashion Journalism • Fashion Photography • Public Relations • Manufacturing • E-Commerce Management • Product Supply Chain Management
With enrolment starting now, classes start in January 2017!
The CFD provides a niche institution striving for excellence in the field of fashion and design, CFD not only provides opportunities for learners to attain higher education, but through providing access to some of the best-known international institutions also works to hone local talent as the future faces of the fashion industry.
I am excited to be part of this amazing step forward to making Dubai a Fashion Capital for learning and educating key talent in this exciting field.
For more information on CFD please contact us at info@mackenziejones.com or to apply visit: http://cfd-dubai.com The College of Fashion and Design, Dubai
