Covid Faq

For new enrolments: Pearl Academy will commence the new academic session for new students from 1 September 2020 and the mode of classes will be online.

For existing students: The new academic session for existing students will begin from 4 August 2020 and the mode of classes will be online.

Classroom learning will commence as per the schedule shared above basis when the Govt. of India lifts the lockdown on educational institutions. New seating matrix, staggered classes/lab timings, different library rules, revamped hostels and canteens, would be a part of students' socially distant lives in college whenever classroom learning resumes. Until then, entire learning will be online.

Yes, the classes at Delhi South, Bangalore campus will commence as per schedule. The session will begin from 1 September 2020 and all classes will be held online.

Classroom learning will commence as per the schedule shared above basis when the Govt. of India lifts the lockdown on educational institutions. New seating matrix, staggered classes/lab timings, different library rules, revamped hostels and canteens, would be part of students' socially distant lives in college whenever classroom learning resumes. Until then, the learning will be online.

• We have planned an online Pre-semester Learning Experience for all new enrollments from 1st July – 31st August.
• The program is an introduction to the world of Fashion, Design, Media, Business and an engaging precursor to the formal classes at Pearl.
• As part of the Pre-Semester Learning Experience, the students will get to interact with top creative thinkers, renowned designers and celebrities from all across the world.
• Through creative team assignments, they will get to display their creative talent using latest technologies for design.
• They will also get to learn new skills and earn Coursera badges.

• This is the beginning of the new semester where the teaching mode will be Online.
• Duration of enhanced learning will be 1 – 30 September for new students and 4 August – 30 September for existing students.
• At Pearl Academy, we understand that many of our students are come from outstation cities and may not be comfortable travelling in the current circumstances. Keeping your safety and security in mind, we have created an engaging 6 weeks online learning module.
• Pearl Academy uses one of the world’s leading Learning Management System – Blackboard Collaborate ULTRA.
• Our faculty has been trained in virtual teaching from the University of California, Irvine to enhance learning experience for our students.
• Additionally, we have partnered with Business of Fashion, Coursera, IBM and now EdX with courses from Harvard, Berkeley, Columbia, MIT and others. Our students have licensed access to these platforms at no additional cost.
• Pearl will also support all the students in setting up a ‘home-studio’ and ‘work from home kit’ where they can practice hands-on skills that they learn in classroom.

• This is when classes will commence on Campus from 1 October – 27 December* for new and existing students.
• Students who are unable to visit the campus, will have an option to continue learning online.
• Classes will be held on campus all 7 days/ week in two shifts/ day.
• Deep cleaning & sanitization of all common areas will be carried out between shifts every day.
• Focus will be on providing extra studio, practical hours while maintaining proper safety, hygiene and social distancing norms.
• Winter break will be reduced to 1 week.

*The dates are subjective to changes and announcement made by Govt. of India and State Govt.

The semester is planned in a manner that ensures safety of our students along with highest quality of learning experience.

Yes, online learning will continue even after the lockdown is lifted. Once the lockdown on educational institutions is lifted by the Govt. of India, classroom learning will resume. However, those students who are unable to visit the campus, will have the option to continue online learning. Online classes have been a part of our pedagogy since five years. Pearl Academy is a pioneer in online learning in fashion, design, contemporary media and creative business education in India. The existing courses have been augmented with a focus towards creating better opportunities and all-round development of our students. These courses include collaborative online learning to enrich the overall learning experience of tomorrow’s graduate.

Leveraging the digital learning expertise, Pearl integrated the ‘Blended Learning’ pedagogy five years ago in its teaching practice. The pedagogy encompasses effective teaching and learning practices from both face-to-face and online delivery. This enables students to:

• Access sections of their course modules (topics that have been online) anytime anywhere.
• Collaborate online through discussion forums and wiki submit assignments.
• View faculty feedback etc. achievement of the Academy’s mission and strategic plans at corporate and centre levels.

This will ensure continuous learner engagement even beyond the classroom hours and will enable them to drive their individual learning experiences. Students who are unable to visit the campus, online learning sessions will continue for them.

Our students are currently engaged with the best learning experience through online classes with latest software to make the classes interactive and useful. Students are getting practical exposure through working on different projects using digital platforms, interactions with the best in the Industry.

Pearl Academy provides education that goes beyond the books and incorporates new-age learning methods for the holistic development of our students. We are the only Design Academy in the world that offers our staff and students free access to 3900+ top quality courses on Coursera created by the world’s most renowned universities.

• We provide essential digital skills by integrating Coursera and BOF courses as part of the curriculum, at no additional cost to its students which gives them an edge and make them industry ready. The students will not only get access to creative courses like Design Thinking, Fashion as Design, Introduction to Typography, Basic Elements of Design, Fundamentals of Graphic Design and Understanding Research Methods but also tech integrated courses, designed to impart skills for the digital age like AI for Everyone, Data Analytics and Introduction to UI/UX Design.
• In addition to this, a free professional online program in Enterprise Design Thinking by global tech giant IBM will be offered to the students.

Even though classroom teaching is temporarily on hold, we are making sure that learning here at Pearl Academy carries on as usual with the help of technology, innovation and the commitment of our faculty. We have taken our entire education online and we are joined by our international and industry collaborators to ensure our students get the best possible creative exposure and opportunities like before.

All our modules have made a seamless transition to the web – live lab demos, virtual project development, guest and international modules.

Even for Pearl aspirants, we were ready with our all-new online avatar – open day style campus counselling online and AI-assisted entrance examination and approx. 3000 students successfully took our online exam.

Our Students are currently engaged with best learning experience through online classes with latest software to make the classes interactive and useful. Students are getting practical exposure through working on different projects using digital platforms, interactions with the best in the Industry.

• Conducting over 1600 weekly classes with over 300 faculty for over 3000 students across India.
• Holding international masterclasses, modules, workshops & sessions as usual with some of the biggest global universities - Royal College of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Solent Southampton University, Whitecliffe College to name a few.
• Organizing exclusive industry facing learning sessions in collaboration with apex organisations and companies like Snapchat India, WACOM, Association of Designers of India (ADI), Fashion Revolution and Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA).
• Giving uninterrupted access to the most celebrated names in creative industry like Shantanu & Nikhil, Miss Malini, Amit Aggarwal, Amit Krishn Gulati, Gunjan Gupta to name a few.
• Ensuring practical learning goes on ever with the help of our advanced technology and expert faculty and exclusive upskilling avenues with Coursera.

Quoting a recent achievement – existing student from UG Fashion Media Communication, Esther Gulivindala has styled, conceptualized and art directed this cover herself - work from home issue for first time ever Cosmopolitan.

For the new batch, the teaching will start with online sessions. As the Govt. of India lifts the lockdown on educational institutions, the classroom learning will resume and thereafter, will be a mix of classroom and online learning.

Pearl Academy has developed an Enhanced Online Learning phase, wherein, we will support all the students in setting up a ‘home-studio’ with a ‘work from home kit’ where they can practice hands-on skills that they learn in classroom.

For details, please refer to the Enhanced Online Learning phase in 2020.

It is true that the economy and industry have been impacted by the current global crisis. With time however, the usual hiring trend will resume. At Pearl Academy, there is a competent Student Placement team which ensures students are placed after they complete the course successfully. Even right now, the placement team is ensuring student placements. Our graduates also receive placement support for 5 years after completion of graduation.

It’s true that many businesses have postponed or cancelled internships and graduation projects. However, we have not been adversely impacted by this. The institute introduced a new curriculum and pedagogy known as Pearl Total Learning System (PTLS) three years ago. As part of PTLS, we have encouraged industry to offer our students industry projects. These projects are mentored by members from the industry & by our faculty, most of these projects have been converted to online projects and are expected to be completed on time. In addition to this our students have an option to do an online collaborative project with students from our International partner universities such as Manchester Metropolitan University, FIT New York. Etc. PTLS is agile and provides those students who were unable to complete their projects an opportunity to complete the Industry projects in the winter semester as well, when we hope things will become normal.

Pearl Academy ensures 100% placement assistance to students who seek placement support and has maintained an excellent record of 99% placements for its graduates with more than 700 companies coming to campus from various industries.

• All industry placements are handled through a centralized Career Services Department. Various brands from the industry regularly participate in the campus placement process.
• Please check our website for detailed information on placements -https://pearlacademy.com/recruiters/

Career Services team comprises of professionals who are continuously striving to bring the best companies to campus. Each school at Pearl Academy has a separate unit which is in sync with the corporate world and its requirements. The highest package offered this year is `12 LPA from IBM.

• Students who wish to enrol for campus placements apply on the placement portal which runs parallel for all the campuses. They prepare their profiles, update their resumes and portfolios on the portal. The career services team works very closely with students to train them as per the current industry trends. Students undergo rigorous personality development sessions, mock interviews, body language and skill test sessions, and participate in industry masterclasses and guest lectures.
• Clients who want to recruit, share their complete job requirement with the team, which is then posted on the placement portal. Students who are enrolled for the process can access these jobs irrespective of their campus, read the complete description and apply within the given time frame. Student profiles, comprising of their resume and portfolio, is shared with the client, who will shortlist the students for further rounds. The interview date is then set on which the client visits the campus to conduct interviews.
• Some of the top companies which visit Pearl Academy for recruiting students are; Accenture, IBM, Capgemini, Arvind Mills, Zara, Anju Modi, Myntra, Future Group, NDTV, Amazon, Nykaa, Gucci, ABOF, Reliance Group, Unistyle, Shantanu & Nikhil, Dorling Kindersley, Walt Disney, H&M, Levi's, UCB, Burberry, Studio Lotus, Pepperfry, Essentia Environments.

Yes, this option is open for all. Considering the current situation, students can choose any of our campuses for the 1st year close to their residence. Later can apply for a campus transfer basis the internal policy for approval.

• Online Exam if missed:
  • Please write to us at admissions@pearlacademy.com OR connect through our Toll free number 1800-103-3005 for more details.
• Fee Structure: Please refer the link for details on fee structure: https://pearlacademy.com/fee-structure/

Under-Graduates

• Pearl Academy facilitates progression of students with recognized international partner academic universities thorugh semaless transfer of credits. Pearl Academy’s partner academic universities are based in UK and Australia. These universities recognize the learning outcomes of students completing Advance Diploma courses at Pearl Academy based on our internationally recognized curriculum and quality assurance processes and then, provides an opportunity to earn an international degree.
• International Bachelor’s Degree Students have an option to obtain an internationally recognized bachelor’s degree by pursuing courses at any one of our partner academic universities as follow:
  • Torrens University, Australia.
  • University of Derby, UK.
  • Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
  • Nottingham Trent University, UK.
  • University for the Creative Arts, UK.

Post Graduates

• On successful completion of two-year PG program @ Pearl, a student is awarded a Post Graduate Diploma from Pearl Academy. All students get to learn latest international trends through masterclasses by global experts and can also avail international student exchange program through (IED Istituto Europeo di Design) MILAN.

Pearl Academy facilitates enrolment of students for international degrees at recognized international partner academic universities. Pearl Academy’s partner academic universities are based in UK and Australia. Students have an option to obtain an internationally recognized bachelor’s degree by pursuing courses at any one of our partner academic universities as follows:

• Torrens University, Australia.
• University of Derby, UK.
• Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
• Nottingham Trent University, UK.
• University for the Creative Arts, UK.

• We are offering full scholarship for 4 weeks exchange programme in Europe and Canada for all our UG and PG students.
• Pearl students get to intern and participate in various international Fashion and Design festivals – Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Dubai Design Week etc.
• Pearl Academy has ventured into a 2-year partnership with Fashion Incubator, to bring to our students an exclusive season
at New York Fashion Week. Along with NYFW students also get the opportunity to intern, travel and experience some of the major world capitals who are at the forefront of Fashion; London, Milan, Dubai, Miami and Paris.
• International faculty – renowned industry stalwarts.
• Our international alliances also bring to our students the opportunity to do collaborative projects, masterclasses with renowned Experts, short study abroad module, International summer school programme etc. and it is open to all Schools and students @ Pearl as well as our alumni:
  • University of Derby - UK.
  • UCA (University of Creative Arts - UK.
  • LDT Nagold - Germany.
  • Torrens University Australia.
  • Manchester Metropolitan University - UK.
  • FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design 7 merchandising) USA.
  • Media Design School - New Zealand.
  • NABA - Italy.
  • Royal Academy of Art, The Hauge- Netherlands.

• Students will have to meet the eligibility criteria & requirements of the partner academic university after the successful completion of Advance Diploma level that is in 2nd year (in case of 3-year UG Program) or 3rd year (in case of 4-year UG Program).
• Pearl Academy facilitates enrolment to undergraduate courses in the below mentioned universities based on eligibility criteria:
  • Torrens University, Australia.
  • University of Derby, UK.
  • Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
  • Nottingham Trent University, UK.
  • University for the Creative Arts, UK.
• The international degree makes students eligible to pursue post-graduation in any international institution.
• Students will get the degree after successful completion of the course at our partner academic university.
• Jaipur campus provides Bachelors of Design and Master of Design Degree by Rajasthan ILD University, which is recognised by UGC.

Every Pearl Academy student from undergraduate (4 yrs., 3 yrs.) or post graduate (2 yrs.) programs, will have an opportunity to get a 100% scholarship on a 4-week Global Immersion Program at leading colleges based in Europe, UK, Canada or South Asia.

For students who complete their undergraduate program at Pearl Academy, up to 50% scholarship on international tuition fee will be provided for post-graduate programs at network institutes.

• Fashion Institute of Technology.
• University for the Creative Arts.
• Nottingham Trent University.
• University of Derby.
• Manchester Metropolitan University.
• LDT Nagold.
• Stamford University.
• Royal Academy of Art, Hague.
• IED Istituto Europeo di Design
• Instituto Europeo di Design.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructure indicates Pearl Academy’s campuses and hostel premises.

• Cleanliness & Operational Readiness.
• Access Control & Health Screening.
• Social Distancing.
• Workplace Layout.
• Medical Readiness.

PEOPLE & BEHAVIOUR

Helping students and employees to manage the uncertainty of the current situation and ensuring their health and safety.

• Mitigate Anxiety.
• Students/employees Expectations & Monitoring.
• Engagement Activities.
• Technology Intervention.
• Workplace Etiquette changes.

CAMPUS RESTORATION PLAN

Pearl Academy plans to restore its campuses and classroom learning when the Govt. of India lifts lockdown on educational institutions, by implementing the below measures:

Step 1: Campus Infrastructure Restoration (CIR)

Facility Readiness

• Ensure readiness of HVAC, ESS, STP, Fire Systems, Water works, UPS and Lifts.
Basic cleaning of Hostels, cafe, huddle spaces, common areas, Classrooms & Labs, meeting rooms & washrooms.

Deep Cleaning

• Deep cleaning offices/ classrooms/ labs / meeting rooms & hostels.
• Utility checks: Water storage tanks, roof top water tank & watercoolers cleaning, restart STPs.

Sanitization/ Disinfection with UV

• Labs/ ESS/ Panels & pumps (UV).
• Computers/ Laptops & IT eqpt (UV).
• Washrooms / pantries / kitchens (Sanitizers + UV).
• Hostels, MI Room.

Fogging

• All outside areas, entrances, basements & boundary walls.

Step 2: Campus Come back Plan: Managing Psychological Shift

Campus Access Protocol

• Thermal Screening of students, faculty/staff, outsourced staff & visitors.
• On-line submission of self-declaration forms one day prior.
• All passengers will dismount except drivers for thermal screening.

Step 3: Health & Emotional Safety Management

Social Distancing

• Re-arrangement of seating in classrooms, offices, hostels, labs & café.
• Maintain 6 ft. seating in offices and meeting rooms.
• Masks to be worn by all.
• PPE’s for workers & medical staff.
• Isolation rooms at campus & hostels.
• Initiate telemedicine concept.
• Specialist e-consultation & lab tie-up.
• Provision of medicine on demand.
• Clear process on dealing with all COVID cases (day scholars & hostellers).

SAFETY GUIDELINES

Implementing sanitization and dis-infection procedures:

• No Bio-metric (finger touch) swiping for attendance.
• Use of touchless technology.
• No water through water coolers. All students & staff to bring their own water. Only packaged water available on sale at campus.
• Cleaning of all water tanks and testing the water quality (at outlet) for bacteriological contaminants & monitoring.
• Lift & elevators protocols.
• Entire office premises to have at least one round of pesticide control activity before resuming the office.
• Appropriate PPE like Face covers, Masks, Goggles, Gloves, Coats, Shoes & appropriate disinfecting gadgets for medical staff & security / HK teams.
• Display board regarding the procedure of disinfection shall be displayed at entrances / prominent places.
• The chemical having quaternary ammonium, sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide as active ingredient should be used for area disinfection. A consent from all parents for all students before they join college will be mandatory.

Hostel Management

COVID PRECAUTIONS AND ACTION PLAN

Before students return

• Deep cleaning and sanitization of complete hostel premises particularly doors, surfaces etc.
• Sanitizer at the entrance & at all floors.
• Hostel Management is taking additional efforts to maintain sanitization at all common areas for all students.

Staff protocols

• All Housekeeping staff will be reporting to the central office daily where body temperature will be checked & noted, new disposable mask & gloves will be given daily. They will be asked to sanitize their hands before entering the premises.
• In addition, each will fill a self-declaration form regarding their medical background, area where they are travelling from and if they have had contact with any COVID-19 patient. This form will be filled daily.
• Any staff not feeling well or have marked yes to any questions about travel and medical history, they will be asked to go home.

Student protocols once they return

• A more detailed self-declaration form will be sent to the students before they return to the hostel to check travel and medical history.
• Students will be told to use the sanitizer provided & wear masks at all times.
• During physical attendance at night, wardens will also check on students' health and if anybody is reporting any symptoms.

Protocol in case a student is found unwell

• If a student reports fever or any other symptoms during daily check, they will be asked to remain quarantined in their room. The room-mate, if not showing symptoms, will be asked to shift to another empty room. College will be informed asap.
• Housekeeping staff will make sure necessary items are provided within the room in the morning itself. Food will be delivered to the doorstep.
• If fever continues for 3 days, she will be escorted by hostel staff to the nearest accredited hospital for a check-up and test. Depending on medical advice, further steps will be taken.
• If a student is found to be tested positive COVID19, hostel would ask parents to quarantine the student in the hospital or another location to avoid further spread to students. The student’s room will be thoroughly sanitized and the roommates will be asked to take extra precautions & monitored closely for symptoms.