AVIXA, SNDT Women's University tie up to place women in AV industry

AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) and SNDT Women's University have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at advancing women in India's fast-growing audio-visual (AV) sector and narrowing the gap between industry and education. The agreement opens up career opportunities, practical training and direct placement in the global AV industry for students.

SNDT Women's University runs programmes for women's education and empowerment, which will now also draw on AVIXA's global experience. Through the partnership, students will get industry exposure, information on new trends in the AV sector and practical learning opportunities. The tie-up is also meant to present the AV sector as more than just a technology-based field.

Career paths in the industry range from creating immersive experiences and enabling hybrid collaboration to managing complex AV systems and shaping the future of digital experiences.

The partnership will give students access to skill development, training, workshops, interactions with experts, knowledge sharing and direct exposure to the industry. It will also offer placement opportunities at top companies in AV system integration and production in the region.

AVIXA and SNDT Women's University will jointly develop courses to give students industry knowledge. They will also offer mentorship, industrial visits and direct training through various education programmes tailored to changing industry needs.

Students stand to benefit in several ways. New courses will be developed to match the changing needs of the AV industry, along with mentorship programmes and industrial visits. Workshops, interactions with experts and digital experiences will focus on technical and practical skills. Students will get direct job opportunities at top companies in AV system integration and production. The agreement also aims to present the AV sector as a space for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, not just technology.

SNDT Women's University director Dr Sachin Ladha said education finds real meaning when students connect with the real world and link what they learn in class to the world outside. He said he was happy to sign the MoU with AVIXA, particularly for women students looking to build careers in technology, as the initiative would create more and better opportunities for them. He added that AVIXA would provide the ecosystem needed for students to stay ahead and capable amid constant advances in technology. He said the MoU reflected a shared commitment to preparing globally competitive talent from India and would raise awareness of the different career opportunities available in the AV industry.

Speaking about the partnership, AVIXA senior director Pung Yi Loy said the AV industry had changed significantly in recent years, creating new opportunities and career paths. He said he wanted young professionals to understand the different possibilities in this rapidly changing industry and to gain the knowledge, skills and experience needed to prepare for the future. He said the partnership with SNDT Women's University was an important step towards strengthening the relationship between classroom education and industry, and would help more women see the AV sector not just as technology but as an opportunity for innovation, creativity and a good career.

SNDT Women's University was founded in 1916 by Maharshi Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve and is the first women's university in India and South-East Asia. AVIXA, founded in 1939, is an international body representing more than 20,000 AV professionals across over 80 countries.