Aug. 2: Unemployed youths seeking self-employment can now turn to the computer cell of the Assam Textile Institute at Ambari.

The government institute for vocational training in textile ? one of its kind in the region ? is all set to introduce two courses on computer-aided textile designing and non-linear audio-visual editing to help the city’s youth pursue careers in the textile industry and the audio-visual media.

“The new courses will open avenues for self-employment as well as in employment in private organisations in the state and beyond,” Romen Kumar Choudhury, a faculty member of the computer cell, said. The institute has a well-equipped laboratory and modern audio-visual classrooms, equipped with highly-configured computer sets programmed specially for designing purposes and other electronic devices to prepare trainees for the modern market.

Classes start this week with 20 seats in each course. However, there are plans to increase the student in-take later on the basis of the demand for the courses. The criteria for admission are a 10th pass certificate and basic knowledge of computers.

With a view to accelerating the pace of employment generation in the textile sector, the Assam Textile Institute recently introduced three-year diploma courses in textile technology, garment technology and fashion technology, all certified by All India Council of Technical Education, under the Union ministry of human resource development. The State Council of Technical Education conducts the examinations for these courses.

“There are rich prospects of jobs, specially outside Assam, after completing these courses. Plus, there is a lot of scope for higher studies as well. However, in Assam, jobs in the textile sector are limited,” said the principal.

The Assam Textile Institute imparts various skill-based training such as electric house-wiring, knitting, doll-making, garment making, embroidery, jute handicraft, tailoring, computer application and DTP.