The Higher Education Review

Education is a powerful medium of learning process, which opens up the horizons of vast scope for the bright future. It not only improves productivity and prosperity, but also enriches our life experience as well as development of society as a whole. Graphic Era Hill University is one such institution that is offering the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as professional, and the values and sensitivity needed to be responsible citizens.

Established in the year 2011, Graphic Era Hill University is a private university which is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It was set up under the aegis of the Graphic Era Education Society as a non-prof-it organization. The university has got recognition from University Grants Commission (UGC) and is a member of Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Encouraging Students to be Innovative Contributors
The Visual Arts education in India focuses on the-oretical approach as well as on practical approach. Many of the Universities and Institutes are still following the traditional methods of teaching visual arts to the students. There is a lack of the practical use of advancements in technology or the latest softwares available. The department of Visual Arts, Graphic Era Hill University is a fusion of theory and creative practice that not only focuses on the traditional methods of learning but also takes advantage of the latest developments in technology. Technology today offers many opportunities to enhance learning processes with information, simulations, and engaging learning activities, and faculty members in the Department of Visual arts are well aware and have the knowledge and skills to take advantage of these advances in their teaching and curriculum planning.

The students are engaged in practical exercise along with research. They understand critical the-ories, art history and apply the same in their creative assignments. The students also nurture their creativity through

collaboration and interaction with the out-side world, i.e., industry, art galleries and museums. As novel ideas or vision can only be developed through awareness and exploration, therefore the department is providing multiple opportunities to the students that are relevant to their respective fields, which in turn enable them to undertake and explore interdisciplinary research as well.

A professional degree in Visual Arts enables the students to gain knowledge and education pertaining to visual arts. A student of Visual arts can pursue majors in Design, Sculpture, Painting and Art History or any other similar subject. The UG and PG programmes in the Department of Visual Arts provide a studio-based education in the practice and theory of contemporary art. The Bachelor of Visual Arts at GEHU includes courses from Art History and Theory programme and other undergraduate programmes, providing students with a broader liberal arts education.

“The University ensures to bridge a channel between the industry and academia as per the demands of the current age and provides opportunities to the students for internships in the graduation programme”

In the Masters programme, this University offers courses in Painting and Applied Art and also has specialisation programme in Painting and Applied Art, which gives emphasis on augmenting expertise through studio-based skills and illustration principles. The PG programme aims to prepare students to work as skilled professional Graphic Designers, efficient Multimedia Designers, UX/UI Designers, Photographers and others. Above all, a Visual Arts education encourages students to be self-reflective, critically responsive, and innovative contributors to the world in which they live.

Equipping Students for Multifaceted Challenges
The Department of Visual Arts in Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun restates the placement patterns with new uncompromised ideas, which has created a contrasting trend over the past years. The earlier practice of recruitment procedure was through internship performance only, but now the things have changed as per the latest requirements and now along with the internships, the department has opted new ideas such as sending the final portfolios of students to different reputed industries and organizations involving two

different national and international projects and participating in open industry challenges to prove the capabilities of students practically towards competitive art market more prominently.

The Department offers internship opportunity to the students in BVA final semester. Students of the BVA programme of both specializations (Painting and Applied Art) get opportunities to do internships in prominent organizations and industries in different parts of the country. By doing this, students find a new high to develop themselves in the professional arena of Visual Arts by working with various professional entities and gain directorial knowledge in the specific domain. The experience of being an intern in various visual arts professional bodies (govt., non-govt. organizations, industries) helps the students of visual arts to gather vast experience which is effective as well as fruitful for their further development as industry ready professionals.

"The University ensures to bridge a channel between the industry and academia as per the demands of the current age and provides opportunities to the students for internships in the graduation programme, participation in national and international events/workshops/competitions which are directly or indirectly linked with the industry-driven approach. Value added courses have also been designed to fill the gaps between industry and academia and also there are multiple exercises and practices which are linked with commercialization and modernization that includes talks of artists and critics, webinars of experts, art consultancy, art work-shop/camps, art residency where students work as apprentice in art gallery under the supervision of artist or art intellectuals, exhibitions of students and others. Furthermore, different experts committee such as board of studies and advisory panel of experts have also been formed on the line of same vision which will create a strong bond between the same." Highlights Prof. (Dr.) S K Sarkar, Head of the Department of Visual Arts at Graphic Era Hill University.

Today, there are immense opportunities in the sector of Visual Arts with high income potential, popularity and prestige. The Department endeavors to produce professionals with creative thinking who can play a positive role in the industry as well as in the society.