The skills and knowledge of crafts, design and business through short duration certificate programmes has potential to bring together multiple stakeholders to one platform. UPID therefore purposefully intends to bring focus to this activity and give planned impetus to the growth of craft sector. The range of seminars and workshops must be carefully developed through prior research and exploration of topics.

Key objectives of the certificate programme are,

• To harness and make available relevant professional expertise for ready dissemination to a large number of people in a fast and convenient manner.
• The certificate programme modules shall empower craftspeople as well as other aspiring individuals to make an impact on the socio-cultural,economic growth and sustenance of crafts in the State.
• Developing key competencies in crafts sector by integrating inputs from disciplines such as design, management, entrepreneurship, etc.
• Provide exposure and experience to enhance key skills for specific crafts.
• Helping craftspeople to use best practices and pedagogy of design and innovation leading to product diversification and differentiation.
• Providing exposure to new techniques in material manipulation and process management for infusing efficient options and techniques in craft practices.
• To encourage design thinking in all aspects of the crafts and its marketing.
• Bringing together experts from different fields so as to offer diverse, latest and specialized inputs that help meet the challenges of globalization.
• Encourage and manage exchanges amongst experts, institutions, NGOs, individuals and government departments for building an enabled meaningful ecosystem for crafts in Uttar Pradesh.
• To promote events and activities after each workshop so as to showcase the new products developed during the workshop.

The certificate programme shall be structured in a way that enables quality and experiential learning within a short duration. The programs will be developed and run under the mentorship and handholding by UPID. The inputs are expected to contribute to the better quality of crafts products and cultural experiences from the point of view of aesthetics, functionality as well as business value. Most of the time spent by the participants will be devoted to hands-on training, collaborative practices with the craftspeople and getting relevant inputs in product innovation and design. In addition to the topics that require hands-on training, there will also be modules that introduce modern day concepts of entrepreneurship, crafts merchandising, marketing, business design and so on. This can be done through Presentations, case studies and group discussions. The curriculum and pedagogy design for all these workshops will be such that the participants gain inputs that help them raise their skills to the level of sustained commercial activity. Some of the key aspects to be taken care of are as below;

• Initially for at least 2 years, the workshops and seminars shall be developed on select main topics for identified crafts across sectors. Subsequently other topics and crafts may be added depending on the popularity and demand of various certificate courses.
• Certificate programs shall utilize the facilities on UPID campus. In cases where required infrastructure and craft expertise is not available on campus, it shall be conducted in a craft cluster or relevant facilities should be outsourced/ hired.
• The certificate programme shall actively support outreach activity of UPID. It will be mutually enriching for the craftspeople and the institute to conduct regular on field workshops.
• Workshop and training program will provide opportunities for design entrepreneurs and craftspeople to interact and create business alliance proposals. The UPID incubator could take suitable proposals forward for mentoring the entrepreneurs.
• Training programmes will be revised and evolved regularly in order to make them tailor made for the needs of specific groups, individuals and locations.
• Inter-workshop flow of ideas and concepts shall be facilitated to nurture interdependence of different craft communities . This will create economic advantage and promote convergence for development of innovative products and new markets.
• Each workshop shall be designed to have a mechanism that will lead to tangible output at the end. The outcome will testify the quality of inputs provided. These mechanisms shall be flexible and open to modifications in order to respond to any critique and feedback. This will send out strong message that UPID stands for enhancing quality, innovation and design sensibilities of craftspeople in the contemporary context.
• Some of the certificate programs may also have a component of Design Clinic i.e. specific problem solving / solutions sessions. It will be useful in particular to the workshops taking place in the field.
• As far as possible the outreach shall be integrated in the curriculum and pedagogy of the certificate programmes. Outreach shall become a key strategy of UPID in leading its agenda of developing cultural industries through entrepreneurship and design thinking.
• Each craft and its problems are unique. There will be training programs to address issues of raw materials, production, human factors, quality, technology, distribution, marketing, economic aspects and so on. To be able to conduct these workshops effectively, networking with outside agencies and individuals shall be crucial. Such networks shall appropriately be planned and operationalized in advance.
• All hands-on workshops that are tools and equipment centric shall aim to offer place to maximum 20 participants. The objective is to give them proper attention for best outcome.
• Hindi shall be the major medium of instruction.
• It is proposed that in initial years, the UPID should conduct 1-2 certificate programs every 3 months. The number could be increased gradually.
• The duration of a workshop could range from 1 week to 6 weeks. The seminars could be planned for 2-3 days duration.

Admissions to the certificate programme shall be open to all interested individuals. In some cases, due to the nature of subject and pedagogy of the workshop, there could be defined prerequisites of certain skill-sets or there may be an age barrier – any such requirement shall be announced in advance. Such eligibility shall be planned in consultation with the subject experts and the anchor faculty of the workshop.

Initially applications from craftspeople will be invited through press advertisements. The certificate programme may also have to depend upon nominations of craftspeople by the State government and/or other government and non-government agencies till they gain in popularity.

Today, the traditional crafts persons are facing challenges of new trends, markets and changing economies, leading to a need of contextual product development and marketing. This calls for both holistic and specific solutions. Certificate programmes shall try to address these through maximizing the output within limited resources.

The Content of the programmes shall as far as possible be developed after thorough research of the needs of crafts, craftspeople, markets and society in consultation with persons having indepth knowledge of the concerned craft. Customization of the curriculum to address the diversity in the participants’ group shall be kept in mind while designing a certificate programme. The workshops shall provide hands-on learning resulting into tangible gain to the participant. The approach shall be more ‘learning by doing’ than theoretical in nature.

Each workshop will have at least one faculty expert and a craftsperson, who should be able to demonstrate various inputs given to the participants. Learning from peers shall be encouraged through collaborative assignments and projects. The programmes shall encourage cross-cultural exchange amongst the participants. Continuous one-to-one feedback shall also be encouraged for simultaneously nurturing creative and entrepreneurial confidence of the individuals.

Use of latest multimedia techniques shall be encouraged in the programmes. Explorations, experimentations, presentations, discussions, feedback and documentation shall be integral to the methodology of each workshop. Public exhibition of the output shall be mandatory for all participants to become eligible for award of the certificate from UPID.

Both on-campus as well as in-field workshops will be offered in strategic view to reach out to maximum craftspeople and other participants. Some of the workshop topics could be specific to the needs of a craft or a craft genre; others may be designed to cater to broader and general requirements of the sector. Each topic and its curriculum content shall be carefully planned with prior need assessment carried out by the UPID on a regular basis. The inputs shall be planned strategically to meet emerging needs of the crafts sector.

The anticipated outcomes from the certificate courses are envisaged as follows :

• Understanding of design issues related to the crafts sector,
• Acquisition of new skills in crafts product development,
• Quality standards of craft products generated,
• Better understanding of materials and processes,
• Appreciation of the need for innovation,
• Ability to relate design concepts to practice,
• Improved expertise in handling tools and materials,
• Skillful manipulation of materials,
• Ability to generate original forms,
• Adopting to newer technology,
• Appreciation of the role of design in the crafts sector,
• Improved understanding of the issues related to the crafts sector in Uttar Pradesh, through design intervention.

Proper attention shall be given in planning and developing the workshop curriculum and its delivery there by setting distinct standards and academic quality. The planning shall be based on understanding of the needs of the sector and the aspirations of potential participants. The workshops should aim to offer cutting edge know - how and practical experience that helps in decoding trends and dynamics in marketplace. This could be possible through active involvement of professional designers and other experts. The programme aims to set standards in training by actively promoting innovation and new design forms. By the end of a workshop, the participants shall be able to apply the learning in their professional and creative work. The pedagogic approaches shall meet standards and benchmarks of comparable programmes offered by some other institutions like NID, IICD, CDI,IIT and so on. These institution have been able to set benchmarks by maintaining high standards in quality of inputs developed through engaging with the reality and people.

To begin with there shall be no system of formal examination for the certificate programme. Instead, all participants will put up a display of their work or make a public presentation. This session should be planned at the end of the programme wherein a group of designers/design educators and experts give their feedback . It shall be planned as an open session. All participants will be encouraged to review the work done by others.The participants who have made a presentation and have attended at least 80% of the workshop shall receive a Certificate of Participation, clearly specifying the title of the workshop, number of days and dates.