I'm in India right now and I have the option of studying in Dubai. Its actually easier for me to study in Dubai however there are very few HCI courses and industrial design courses (if any) much less any courses related to ixd in Dubai so I've focused on looking at schools in the India region.
Perhaps an ixda certification for an entire program would be too tedious. Its a bit of a generalization but most domestic tech companies in India and Arabia hire visual designers or programmers to solve issues best tended to by someone who is a full fledged ixd. Having 'recognition by ixda' badges printed in promotional materials that are distributed by recognized institutes in the local market also indirectly increases awareness of ixd among the local population. Apart from full fledged colleges, courses at individual institutes and community colleges could benefit from the acknowldgement and in turn provide interaction design courseware as an option to students pursuing visual design or programming. As a real world example of what I've been thinking: http://srishti.ac.in/programmes.htm has a foundation skills program and a core skills program that could be recognizable (at least to me although I've not had any hands on design training) as education/training relevant to becoming an ixd. If the link in the above example had an approval by ixda badge it not only benefits the school as proof of recognition by a professional body, it also increases the awareness of ixda as a professional organization and thereby ixd as a profession by school students, students scouting for courses and HR scouts looking for future employees. I have seen graduate and PG courses by NID and IIT in India but haven't been too confident in whats been offered: http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/academics/Interaction-design-course-content.htm seems to be worthwhile. IIT has a reputation of entry requirements (academic scores) that exceeds the reach of mere mortals and I'm not completely sold on how complete it is as a professional degree given the entrance requirements. I haven't thought through the process of how a process of certification would work but I assume a process along the lines of following could work: -ixda members could shortlist existing courses (or sub-courses) based on if the course teaches the correct design methodologies (rather than out dated techniques) or uses relevant reference materials (HFE concepts for example) -Courses that teach the relevant theories and use relevant reading materials could be evaluated remotely. -Courses that provide design training may require an evaluator present to make sure outdated methodology is not taught. --Colleges who believe they have the relevant course ware certified could email the ixda directly for certification. If the college is remotely located and offers hands on design training, they can sponsor a visit by board members or members with 'education evaluation rights' to receive their badge for a hands on evaluation of the taught design techniques. -Once certified, a badge could be issued along with permission to reprint the badge in promotional materials. -Natural market forces take over and increase awareness of ixda and ixd through more wide spread publication of ixda recognition badges. There's probably a more effective process of certifying courses. Visits by (possibly sponsored) evaluators is what I've experienced when institutes I've studied in are in a process of receiving additional accredidation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=37334 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
