GIA Courses at University of Witwatersrand

Classes beginning in April will provide opportunities for skills development

CARLSBAD, Calif. – March 14, 2011 – GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has partnered with the Wits Commercial Enterprise, a private company owned by the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, to offer diamond, colored gemstone and jewelry arts education. The aim of these courses is to further beneficiation efforts by offering education that will develop and improve the skill base of local people.

Classes scheduled for 2011: April 4–8, April 11–15, Oct. 3–7 and Oct. 10–14. They will be held at 92, Empire Wits 2050, Johannesburg.

GIA will offer its Accredited Jewelry Professional Program (AJP) on-site up to four times a year. Each class will be available for 15 to 20 students. The AJP course, targeted at the retail jewelry professional, teaches students to provide accurate information on the 4Cs, design, style and manufacturing features of jewelry items their customers are considering, which instils trust and confidence in the pieces they decide to purchase.

WITS is one of the world’s most prominent universities, based on research and academic distinction. It is in the top one percent of seven defined research fields, according to the Institute for Scientific Information.

“GIA is committed to excellence and is proud to work with one of the world’s leading universities to further our mission of enabling beneficiation through education,” said Donna Baker, GIA president and CEO. “The Institute looks forward to continuing to serve the region by fostering skills transfer and development to improve the lives of South Africans.”   

Students interested in enrolling in these classes should contact giaeducationafrica@gia.edu for more information. Or they can call 27-82-260-4212 or 27-11-334-2744. Students can also contact Melissa Moodley at Wits Commercial Enterprise by calling 27-11-717-4598 or e-mailing melissa.moodley@wits.ac.za.