Daren Kang, director, Raffles Millennium International, talks about how the design institute has made a mark in Bangalore.
Globally, Raffles Millennium has an excellent record. How is the scenario in India when compared to international markets?
The response has been spectacular in India too. We have students from all walks of life joining the institution. Considering that we established the institute in Bangalore only three years back, we have been able to make our mark in the city.
What courses does Raffles offer?
We are an end-to-end design institution. We offer courses in fashion design, fashion marketing, product design, graphic and interior design courses.
Tell us a little bit about the origin of the college...
Raffles was founded by Chew Hua Seng in 1990. The headquarters is in Singapore. We are present in 13 countries with 33 branches across 33 cities.
How many branches do you have in India?
We have seven: Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Calicut and Chennai.
How is the Bangalore branch unique?
Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city and attracts lot of students. The talent here is quite creative and enthusiastic. Due to its cosmopolitan status, Bangalore is the preferred destination for people across India and outside India. We have a lot of foreign students as well as faculty from across the world. Bangalore is quite welcoming when it comes to people from different culture and ethnicity.
The courses that you offer are purely artistic and niche. Does India have more takers?
Parents here are a little conservative. They want their children to be either doctors or engineers. They are slightly apprehensive when it comes to niche courses like designing, be it in fashion, product or interior. But what they need to understand is that these course requires lot of creativity, and once a student finishes his/ her course, there is lot of career potential.
Considering that Indian parents are not forthcoming as parents abroad, how do you market your courses in India?
Raffles is a premium brand. We try to drive home the point that we are not merely into fashion design, but all aspects of design, including car/ transportation design, which is very niche. We try to make people aware that it’s the designer who bridges the gap between an engineer and a marketer.
Do you follow an international syllabus?
Yes, we do. Our curriculum is international. The degree is conferred by the Australian college because Australian has vigorous educational system. Moreover, it’s easier for a student to get a job anywhere in the world if he/ she has an Australian degree.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}