UPES begins 2020 session; immersive pre-semester learning started in virtual mode

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Pahal Design in Announcement, Careers, Design, Fashion, Fashion Design, Fashion Design Career, NATA, UPES

COVID-19 and the chaos ensued by this worldwide pandemic has proved to be a litmus test for the educational institutes. Many of them had to discontinue classes or delay examinations for an unforeseeable time due to lockdown and safety concerns. Virtual classes have primarily been online sessions and scanned notes with inadequate learning management, engagement and efficacy. Very few institutes as UPES have managed to ride the tide due to their tech-led pedagogy, digitized curriculum, online-proctored examination system, and faculty trained in conducting virtual classrooms.

UPES has commenced the academic year (AY) 2020-2021 on time after concluding AY 2019-2020 with online examinations and result declaration for all graduating and non-graduating batches. The university has developed and implemented an immersive- academic- learning framework for this year’s batch- the Resilient Class of 2020. As part of this framework, pre-semester learning has begun from August 3 at the School of Design and School of Business, followed by other UPES schools. The pre-semester learning module consists of workshops, masterclasses, exploratory projects, CEO talks and mentor sessions.

Creativity unbound at the School of Design 

Pre-semester learning for the design cohort of 2020 emphasizes on varied interests of students and the program specialization they have opted for. ‘Crafting Futures’ workshop put together by international design expert Hugo Pilate will introduce them to the practice of Speculative Design (also called Design Fiction). In Paul Damle’s workshop ‘Paper Gets Smart’ students will learn to create unique product designs using the humble paper as the primary artistic medium. They will also get to explore the world of sustainable design, fashion, costume, cinema, film-making, caricature art and clay craft during multiple other sessions. 
There is an impressive line-up of masterclasses with industry experts including Anuj Prasad, Founder & CEO, Desmania Design; Dhimant Vyas, title animator of Aamir Khan starrer ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and Creative Director at Zynga Games.

Manisha Mohan, the former design and innovation chief at Tata Interactive Systems who has won several national and international awards for design innovation, heads the UPES School of Design. The School offers B.Des and M.Des programs in Industrial & Product Design; Interior & Retail Spaces Design; Transportation & Mobility Design; Animation & VFX Design, Fashion Design; User Experience & Interaction Design, amongst others. 

Regular semesters 

Regular semesters for the Resilient Batch of 2020 will begin in virtual mode after the pre-semester learning module. Eventually, face-to-face classes will be conducted as per the government and UGC guidelines. Necessary arrangements are under-way to make UPES campuses and infrastructure safe for on-campus classes. 

Besides School of Design and School of Business UPES runs School of Engineering, School of Computer Science, School of Law, School of Health Science and School of Modern Media. Established in Dehradun, considered one of the most conducive educational hubs of India and a safe city, the university is known for its industry-relevant specialized programs and multi-disciplinary approach. Source TOI