Dazzling prospects

If you've always dreamed of working with all things that sparkle and shine, here's your chance. The International Gemmological Institute (IGI), the world's largest independent gem certification and appraisal establishment based in Belgium, has brought its programmes to the UAE. IGI provides its students with a wide range of courses, extending from polished diamonds to jewellery design. Taken by people from more than 95 countries, IGI courses are available in nine languages. The number of participants per course is limited to small working groups in order to enable interaction between students and their instructor.

The gem and jewellery industry in Dubai

According to Lata Manghnani, general manager of marketing and operations at IGI in Dubai, the International Gemmological Institute was one of the only schools to answer the strong demand for education in the jewellery industry and has trained more than 1,500 professionals in the Middle East.

"Today, we see that jewellers in Dubai boast over 60 per cent diamond jewellery," she said. "However, the task of education is only the beginning."

Manghnani emphasised that with the constant advancement of consumer knowledge, education is the backbone to creating competent professionals in the market.

"In a fast-growing market like this one, with consumers being more and more educated, and with a world where the consumer has so many choices of what to buy, we must understand that the customer is king and that he or she needs to get the best service," she said. "And for this, education is the key word."

We ask the questions

Are you ready to shine with a career in the world of gems and jewellery? Notes asks some of questions you may have in mind.

What programmes are available and how much do they cost?

Students have four programmes to choose from:

• Polished Diamond – Dh3,000
• Professional Jewellery Designing – Dh6,500
• Rough Diamond Grading – Dh4,000
• Coloured Stones – Dh3,500

What kind of jobs could students pursue in the gem and jewellery industry?

Just a few examples of careers one could pursue in the industry include:

• Diamond division;
• Quality control;
• Diamond buying;
• A freelancer or consultant to a diamond or jewellery wholesaler/retailer.

What kind of certificates do students leave the programmes with and how well are they recognised?

Upon completion of the IGI courses, students will be awarded an IGI diploma issued from the institute's headquarters in Belgium.

Upon completion of the Polished and Rough Diamond Grading courses, a Graduate Gemmologist (GG) diploma will be issued to the student.

If students complete the Polished and Rough Diamond Grading courses as well as the Coloured Stone Identification Programme, they will be awarded a Diamond Graduate (DG) diploma. These diplomas are internationally recognised.

How long are the programmes and when are their intakes?
The intakes for the programmes are as scheduled below:

• Polished Diamond Course (Duration: 10 days)
• July 19 to July 29
• November 8 to November 18
• Professional Jewellery Designing Course (Duration: 19 days)
• May 24 to June 14
• Rough Diamond Grading Course (Duration: 8 days)
• November 19 to November 27
• Coloured Stones Course (Duration: 10 days)
• June 28 to July 8
• October 11 to October 21

How can I apply?

Students can apply by filling a registration form and enrolling at the IGI office at M24, Goldland, Deira.

— Information provided by Lata Manghnani, general manager of marketing and operations at IGI in Dubai