The collaboration aims to build world-class talent in design, creativity, and innovation that will directly support India’s manufacturing and creative industries as they enter a new phase of global engagement under the recently concluded India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), said a statement.
The India–EU FTA, finalized at the 16th India–EU Summit and widely described as the “mother of all deals,” is a transformative milestone in India’s trade strategy, removing or reducing tariffs on the vast majority of goods and significantly enhancing market access for Indian exporters to the 27-nation EU bloc — one of the world’s largest economic partnerships.
As Indian industries prepare to compete and collaborate more intensively on the global stage, the demand for highly skilled, visionary designers and innovators has never been greater. Through this partnership, KICL and IUAD will co-develop industry-aligned education and training pathways, combining IUAD’s heritage of creativity and practice-led learning with KICL’s deep industrial experience. These programs will equip students with cutting-edge capabilities in fashion, footwear, and lifestyle design — skills critical for enhancing India’s creative exports and competitiveness in the EU and beyond.
The collaboration will deliver Curriculum co-design with global industry inputs, Hands-on projects and real-world industrial exposure and Masterclasses and mentorship by international experts and Pathways to global industry placements and mobility.
The partnership supports India’s ambition to integrate into global value chains and leverage the opportunities created by the India–EU FTA. It aligns with national priorities to strengthen India’s manufacturing, create high-value employment, and position the country as a leading hub for design-driven industry growth.
KICL and Accademia IUAD are committed to nurturing the creative and innovative talent that will power India’s future in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
