NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, MAY 12
A silent creative revolution is unfolding in Ahmedabad — and at its centre stands GLS University’s rapidly rising Faculty of Design, which has emerged as one of India’s hottest destinations for aspiring creators, digital artists, designers and storytellers.
- More than 3,000 students apply for GLS University’s Faculty of Design amid surging demand for creative careers
- Only 250 shortlisted for next-stage written examination in one of Gujarat’s most competitive design admissions
- Global B.Design (Hons.) programme launched in collaboration with SAE Institute Australia attracts strong attention
- Courses in Game Development, 3D Animation and VFX target booming digital content and entertainment industries
- Industry-driven learning, global exposure and hands-on training reshape future of design education in India
In a striking reflection of India’s booming creative economy, more than 3,000 students have applied this year for admission to the design faculty, with only 250 candidates advancing to the written examination stage held in April.
Education experts say the overwhelming response signals a major shift in student aspirations, where creativity is no longer viewed merely as a passion or hobby, but increasingly as a serious global career pathway.
India’s Creative Economy Attracts New Generation
The surge in applications comes amid explosive growth across sectors such as gaming, animation, visual effects, digital media, filmmaking, immersive storytelling and content creation.
Students are increasingly gravitating towards institutions that offer hands-on industry exposure, real-world projects and global learning opportunities rather than traditional classroom-based education models.
A major attraction driving this momentum is the Global B.Design (Hons.) programme offered in collaboration with SAE Institute — one of the world’s leading creative media education networks.
The programme is being offered through SAE’s first India campus at GLS University and opens pathways for students to continue their academic journey across SAE campuses spread over 20 countries.
From Ahmedabad to Global Creative Industries
The collaboration is positioning Ahmedabad as an emerging hub for global-standard creative education.
Students enrolling in the programme gain exposure to rapidly expanding industries such as 3D Animation & VFX, Game Development, filmmaking and digital content production — sectors projected to witness massive hiring demand over the coming decade.
Industry insiders believe India’s digital entertainment and gaming ecosystem could become one of the country’s biggest employment generators for creative professionals.
Unlike conventional academic models, the GLS Faculty of Design emphasises studio-based learning, live industry assignments, collaborative experimentation and project-driven mentorship.
‘Students Want to Create, Influence and Innovate’
Speaking about the overwhelming response, Dr. Chandni Kapadia said the current admission season reflects a much larger transformation taking place in India’s education landscape.
“This is not just another admission season. It’s a glimpse into how young minds are redefining what education looks like,” she said.
“Today’s students don’t just want careers; they want to create, influence and innovate. Institutions that understand this are becoming launchpads for something much bigger than degrees,” Kapadia added.
Beyond Classrooms: Studios, Startups and Industry Exposure
Inside the campus studios, the atmosphere resembles a live creative production ecosystem more than a traditional educational institution.
Students move between sketching tables, filmmaking studios, editing suites, gaming labs and collaborative spaces where experimentation is encouraged and creative risk-taking becomes part of the learning process.
One day students may work on live client briefs, while the next they collaborate directly with industry mentors and professionals.
Education analysts say this immersive model is increasingly becoming the preferred route for students seeking employability in the fast-evolving digital economy.
The impact is already visible.
Recruiters are actively engaging with students, startups are emerging from campus projects and many graduates are pursuing international opportunities and freelance entrepreneurial ventures.
Creativity Becomes Career Currency
The success of GLS Faculty of Design reflects a broader transformation sweeping through India’s higher education ecosystem, where interdisciplinary creativity, technology integration and industry relevance are rapidly overtaking conventional rote-learning structures.
For thousands of students now aspiring to enter creative industries, institutions like GLS are becoming launchpads into a future driven by imagination, storytelling, digital experiences and innovation.
And in Ahmedabad, that future appears to have already arrived.
