The Central Footwear Training Institute, Chennai The Central Footwear Training Institute, Chennai, is a premier institute of its kind in the country, which came into existence in July, 1957, with the assistance of the Ford Foundation. The erstwhile CFTC was conducting 18 months Advanced Footwear Technology Course and Practical Oriented Need Based Short-term Courses. The Departmentally run Central Footwear Training Centre was converted into an autonomous Institution (Government of India, under the Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises, Govt. of India) w.e.f. 01.01.1996 for better functional autonomy and was renamed as Central Footwear Training Institute, Chennai (CFTI, Chennai). The Institute has been modernised with UNDP assistance under the National Leather Development Programme and is fully equipped with state-of-the art machinery to impart training in the modern methods of Footwear manufacturing. The CFTI Chennai has been one of India's premier institutions dedicated exclusively to footwear technology education, skill development, research, and entrepreneurship for nearly seven decades. Over the past 69 years, the Institute has trained more than 2.66 lakh candidates, including international trainees, many of whom are employed in leading footwear manufacturing companies in India and abroad. Eligibility Criteria Students who have completed Class 10, Class 12, Diploma, or Graduation can enrol in the Institute's industry-oriented programmes. Courses Offered The Institute currently offers seven career-oriented programmes, including courses in footwear manufacturing, footwear design, product development, advanced footwear technology, production management, quality assurance, CAD, industrial engineering, and a specialised one-year Sports Shoe Manufacturing course to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the sports footwear sector. The Institute's long-term and medium-term programmes have now been upgraded to NCVET-approved courses, replacing the earlier NSQF-based programmes. The revised curriculum has been designed to meet the changing requirements of the footwear industry and comprises 70 per cent practical workshop training and 30 per cent classroom instruction, enabling students to acquire industry-ready skills through extensive hands-on learning. S.No. Name of the Course NSQF Level Eligibility Duration 1 Advance Diploma in Footwear Manufacture & Design (ADFMD) 5 12th Pass 24 Months 2 Technician - Footwear Manufacturing (FM) 3.5 10th Pass 12 Months 3 Jr. Technician- Footwear Design & Production (FDP) 3 10th Pass 6 Months 4 Master Technician - Footwear Design & Product Development (FDPD) 4 12th Pass 12 Months 5 Technical Supervisor - Advanced Footwear Technology (AFT) 5 Any Diploma 12 Months 6 Technical Manager - Footwear Technology (FT) 6 Any Graduate 18 Months 7 Jr. Technical Supervisor - Sports Shoe Manufacturing (SSM) 4.5 12th Pass 12 Months Employment Opportunities The footwear industry in Tamil Nadu is rapidly expanding, and the leading multinational and Indian footwear manufacturers are establishing large manufacturing facilities across Ulundurpet, Vellore, Perambalur, Karur, Tindivanam, Ranipet, Ambur, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Jayankondam, and other industrial clusters in the State. The proposed investments, exceeding ₹15,075 crore, are expected to generate a demand for around 1.76 lakh shop-floor employees and over 3,900 supervisory and middle-management professionals during the next two to three years. For more information, visit Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), Chennai Sources PIB Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), Chennai