New Delhi: Fresh graduates of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) should embrace the traditional knowledge of design in their work and keep themselves connected with ethics and ethos alive, Anand Sharma the Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles has said.

Addressing the gathering at the convocation ceremony of NIFT, Sharma added that, "Our country is a rich nation in terms of tradition and old practices of design NIFT students and faculty have to adopt and take this forwarded as a responsibility".

Sharma congratulated the NIFT for completing 25 years. The fresh batch of graduates and post-graduates from class of 2011 were awarded Degrees in the Convocation Ceremony by the Textiles Minister.

The Board of Governors of NIFT and distinguished experts from the industry were also present on the occasion. Sharma said that, Indian fashion Industry is still evolving but surely it has made its mark.

Ms. Monika S. Garg the Direct General of NIFT while addressing the gathering informed that this year in the presence of the Prime Ministers of both the countries at Dhaka, NIFT entered into an association with BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangladesh for collaboration in various areas based on building specific professional competencies.

The Director General also appraised the gathering that over the last few years NIFT has undertaken strategic steps to forge international linkages with International schools of repute. Currently, NIFT has over 30 MOUs with foreign fashion schools for student & faculty exchange, conferences, seminars and exhibitions.

As an attempt to inculcate social awareness, the Craft Cluster Project has been woven into the Academic Calendar. Understanding the social responsibility towards this sector, the NIFT students continue to contribute to the clusters through design intervention and product diversification.

In all, 1492 graduates of from ten streams of study and from nine Centers of NIFT were awarded Degrees. The Minister called upon the students to uphold the tradition of excellence inculcated in NIFT while they carved out brilliant careers for themselves in their chosen fields.

Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, Board of Governors of NIFT addressed the gathering and congratulated the graduating students. Sr. Prof. Banhi Jha, Dean (Academic) presented the Vote of Thanks.