Educational Courses

The transfer of R&D findings and the transfer of adapted technology to the various entrepreneurs and related industries were covered under different HRD programs, training programs, courses, awareness programs, work shops, seminars, Ph. D. programmes, etc.

Training Programs & Courses

WRA has undertaken the training courses for members and non-members in quality test houses, computer color matching, and computer-aided designing and also in carpet manufacturing. WRA is running training courses on physical and chemical testing of wool and wool-blended material, dyeing of wool, especially with natural dyes, scouring, bleaching, mothproofing, softening of wool and wool-blended material, evaluation of carpets, carpet designing and weaving, computer color matching, computer aided designing, computer aided-knitting, dref spinning, jute spinning, and fine wool spinning.

LTM - Wool, Diploma in Dyeing & Finishing of Wool

From 1963 to 1974, the association was at the VJTI Textile Department, then from November 1974 to June 1980 at SASMIRA, and from July 1980 onwards at Thane in its own premises covering an area of 75,000 sq. yards.

The diploma level course "LTM - Wool" was started by Woollen Industries with the help of WRA at the Textile Department of VJTI, Mumbai. The course was initiated by the Late Shri G.K. Singhania of M/s Raymond Woollen Mills Ltd., Thane, the then president of WRA, Prof. Mody, Secretary and Principal VJTI and Shri. U. M. Patel, Director of WRA, Indian Woollen Mills Federation, and other members of the industries. Two classrooms were provided by VJTI, Mumbai to conduct the Wool Technology course. The syllabus was approved by the Board of Technical Education, Maharashtra State for a three-years duration course titled "LTM-Wool" with a sandwich pattern. The intake capacity of the course was 15 to 20 students. The basic qualification required was S.S.C. In the final year of the course, in-plant training was given to the students at different mills with a stipend. Experienced personnel from industry used to give lecturers as visiting faculty along with expertise from WRA. At that time also, Leeds University had shown interest in developing WRA for the Wool Technology Course. Guidance was sought for preparing the syllabus from Leeds University. The LTM- Wool course was continued upto 1974.

Then WRA shifted to SASMIRA where WRA started the course- "Dyeing and Finishing of Wool. This course was continued up to 1983. The faculty from WRA were visiting SASMIRA to give the lectures for this course.

When the Wool Research Association shifted to its own premises in 1980, it attempted to start a course at its own premises. The carpet weaving program was conducted at WRA premises for non-school-going children with the stipend as remuneration from WRA.

Internship for B.Tech (Textile) Students

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai is conducting "The Knitwear design and Technology program" since 1998 in Mumbai. At the end of this program the students develop their individual design collections of 6-8 garments each based on specific themes. Knitwear design developments of three students were carried out at Wool Research Association during last three years (2000-2002) on the Computerised Knitting & Designing System. Two of the students who developed their designs at WRA received the best commercial collection award during their Annual Collection Show. It is a remarkable achievement of WRA in the field of knitting design.

Wool Education at School Level

Another positive attribute of WRA for the wool education is in the field of wool education at the school level. The Marathi Vidyan Parishad (Mumbai-Based Science Forum) is an autonomous body to promote scientific knowledge among the students at the school level. The Wool Technology training course was conducted by WRA for the school teachers in association with Marathi Vidyan Parishad. In future the said association will be deputing different students from the different schools to undertake the scientific projects/demonstrative models in the field of wool technology. In short WRA is already on the proper track to impart the wool technology education to all sectors at all levels, from school students to top executives.

Special Training Courses

Present Status

• Certificate course in Instrumental Chemical Analysis
• Certificate course in Textile Testing & Quality Control