The Higher Education Review

Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) is an internationally recognized platform for learning. It is known for its overwhelming media education in film making, journalism, performing arts, advertising, acting, fashion design, interior design, dance, digital marketing, animation, visual effects, and game design and development. With Indian media and entertainment industry brimming with a CAGR of 10.90 percent from FY 17-18, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.10 percent to touch INR 2,660.20 bn by FY23, (as stated in India Brand Equity Foundation), AAFT is playing a vital role by providing technically advanced media education, and at the same time fostering a flexible and collaborative learning environment. From around 80+ available courses, the students can opt to study B.Sc. in Animation, B.Sc. in Multimedia, B.Sc. in Game Design and Development, M.Sc. in Animation, M.Sc. in Multimedia, M.Sc. in Game Design & Development, Diploma in 3D Animation & VFX and Diploma in Multimedia & Digital Marketing.

A Legacy Build Over 26 Years
Located in Noida Film City, Uttar Pradesh, AAFT was established 26 years ago under the aegis of a leading entertainment and media house Marwah Studios. Since its establishment, AFFT has been catering to the needs of thought processes and perspective for the Indian media and creative sector. The entertainment and media college has been constantly producing global leaders of highly creative thinking with top-notch technical skills. "Our faculties are having more than 10-15 years of industry and academic experience with

excellent command in respective domains. Rather than just teaching, we instill confidence at the very core of the students, so that they perform exuberantly when they step into the industry," says Sandeep Marwah, Founder & President, AAFT.

"To make the students aware of international industry practices, AAFT School of Animation invites international faculties to share their experience, which helps the students to learn about the international market trends"

With the philosophy to make students evolve and learn at every step, AAFT encourages them to make mistakes, to do experiments, so that they can explore the unchartered territories of animation and multimedia, and bring out new dimensions for this industry. "After all, creativity is about thinking differently. In the animation school, AAFT School of Animation, we have dedicated art studio, sculpting studio, game play studio, digital pen tablets, computer labs with workstations, chroma studio, audio and video editing (IMAC Studio) and still & video camera. These facilities persuade a student to acquire new skills and strengthen its core belief to work with technologies confidently," elucidates Sandeep. Starting from regular theory and practical lab sessions, AAFT School of Animation has incorporated teaching-learning methodologies from latest industrial trends, which encourages the students to discover various industry opportunities, according to their interests and expertise.

Not only increasing the creative horizons of the students, but AFFT School of Animation has also integrated industry-centric job oriented career programmes, and they keep the course curriculum updated based on changing industry norms, giving students scopes for multiple career opportunities. Sandeep says, "Our project-oriented training on the latest creative tools in the media and entertainment industry has

created a sense of creative visualization among the students. Students learn it and develop their portfolio consequently to enhance career prospects. We focus on overall development of entrepreneurship skills in alignment to the nation's vision "Skill India", "Digital India" & "Make in India"."

Training Students to meet the International Industry Practices
To make the students aware of international industry practices, AAFT School of Animation invites international faculties to share their experience, which helps the students to learn about the international market trends, technologies and practices. The school also conducts regular workshops and seminars for Indian animation industry where the students get hands-on practical training. "We regularly share different industry requirement among the students and mentor them for technical test and interview at campus, onsite and online. We have a dedicated placement team to collaborate with different companies regarding their requirements with grooming and assistance for an interview. We have 100 percent job placement in media and entertainment industry. Our students, Anushree D. Kalimakar is working as Special Effects Head for films, Sandeep Gupta has worked as the Editor for Desh Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, Gopal Krishna has worked as Sr. Designer in Dreamworks Animation, and Ritesh Anand is working as Video Editor for Fashion TV," shares Sandeep.

AAFT School of Animation is working to expand their course spectrum of higher education in some more specific segments of animation, VFX and gaming. They are marching forward to collaborate with industry leaders and include latest technologies in their labs. "For making a united community of media and entertainment leaders, we have created a space where different students share their ideas and create an extraordinary learning ambiance," concludes Sandeep.