These programmes are the first of their kind as NSHM is the first Indian institute that both Adobe and Autodesk have collaborated with. Professionals from both the companies will train the NSHM faculty, besides helping them in developing the syllabus.

"The collaboration aims to create professionals with effective technical and managerial skills who will then be able to provide an able leadership to the industry," said Santanu Ray, Director, NSHM, Kolkata.

Focusing on the need for trained designers, an official of Adobe Jayant Bhaduria said that animation and design companies are doing a lot of outsourcing. "The challenge is to educate aspirants so that they come into the industry fully prepared and no extra time is needed to be spent on training them," he added.

"While a large number of foreign companies prefer Indian professionals for animation and designing, the animation industry in India is also developing very rapidly. A career in animation can be highly lucrative and satisfying," said Rajeev Pathak, Regional Manager (North and East), Autodesk M&E. He said that the scope of animation is much wider than what is generally perceived and can be effectively used in architectural, medical and product designing.

Certified by Adobe, the Visual Design & Communication Management programme will be 18 month- long and is priced at Rs 7, 87,500. The Animation & Visual Effects programme will be of 24 months and will cost Rs 7, 95,500.