IMore than a hundred years old, the London College of Printing will soon be moving to a new 24 million GBP campus that it will occupy along with the four

More than a hundred years old, the London College of Printing will soon be moving to a new 24 million GBP campus that it will occupy along with the four other colleges that are also part of the London Institute, one of the world's largest academic centers for art, design and communications. Historically, the sons and daughters of Indian printers are sent to the London College of Printing and many have come back to run the family business and to make it grow.

Earlier this month, John Stephens, Dean of Printing, and Leslie Claridge, Further Education Coordinator visited several cities in India to see some of the presses, and to meet printers as well as prospective student candidates and parents. We met them in Delhi together with SC Lall who is the Delhi based representative in India for the London Institute, for a short discussion one morning. We also heard them speak to a gathering of former students and interested candidates at an evening get-together organised by the Delhi Printer's Association.

What emerged out of our discussion is that the visits to the Indian presses helped to make them aware of the breadth of technologies that co-exist here. It is important to know the industry and its continued commitment to heavy metal and brick and mortar type of printing albeit leavened with the latest digital prepress and communication technologies especially if they are "educating tomorrow's decision makers." Quite justifiably, the two academics spoke of the cosmopolitan experience of studying in London and especially the creative atmosphere of the Institute which is comprised of several well-known art, design and fashion colleges in addition to the College of Printing. John Stephens spoke of of education at the LCP as a "value process that is greater than available in India."

In keeping with the changes in technology the LCP is keen to prepare its graduates for the new digital processes and for media convergence. Two year courses include the National Diploma in Printing and the proposed Certificate in Digital and Print Media. There are new Foundation degrees in Digital Media, Printing and Publishing Production and BA's in Print Media Management, Publishing and Digital Media. The variety of courses, specialisations and their durations is quite wide and should different areas and levels of interest and resources. The College itself contains the School of Graphic Design, the School of Media, the School of Printing and Publishing, the School of Marketing and Management, and the School of Retail Studies.