Established in the year 2003, the Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery (IIGJ), started off as an academic project of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC), supported by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The $40 billion Indian gem and jewellery industry aims to achieve global leadership in the field of jewellery making. However, that can only be achieved by imparting education in a professional manner. IIGJ stepped up its efforts to meet this challenge by recently adding two more training institutes – in Varanasi and Udupi – to its existing five training centres in Andheri and Tardeo in Mumbai, Jaipur, New Delhi and Kolkata. SANJOY GHOSH, head of IIGJ, Mumbai, speaks to Solitaire International about the path ahead.
The IIGJ has been constantly upgrading its curriculum. Tell us more about the courses added in the last couple of years.
During the last two years, IIGJ Mumbai has added two postgraduate one-year diploma programmes addressing the needs of the students who after graduating are looking for an entry into the jewellery industry. Many of the students belong to families that are already in the jewellery business, and are seeking enhanced knowledge of jewellery designing and manufacturing.
Eighteen students enrolled for this programme in 2017-18, and the batch beginning 2018-19 has already attracted 25 students for the one-year postgraduate diploma in Jewellery Studies/ Management.
How intensive is the postgraduate course? Is it affiliated to the Mumbai University?
The one-year postgraduate diploma in Jewellery Studies/ Management is a highly intensive course comprising 1,080 hours of in-class training. The course is designed for the ambitious, enthusiastic and determined career-seeking students. It provides the students with hands-on training experience in all aspects of jewellery – from concept building, manufacturing, CAD/CAM and merchandising, to product development and management training.
We are in the process of getting affiliation for this course with Symbiosis Skills and Open University (SSOU).
Some years ago IIGJ introduced management courses in affiliation with Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai. How has the response been?
More than ever in the history of jewellery education, children belonging to family jewellers are joining various education programmes with the sole purpose of acquiring knowledge, so as to become responsible members of the community.
We have introduced technological advancement in our curriculum through the availability of online resources. Over 20% of our education is imparted through multimedia learning. Over the last few years, we have observed that some students learn better visually, while others are good at auditory learning. Acknowledging this fact, teachers have adjusted their teaching techniques. Instead of strictly lecturing and placing notes up on the projector screens, they are using multimedia tools to improvise teaching methods.
The management programme conducted in partnership with Welingkar has worked very well for IIGJ Mumbai with 100% enrolment for the course.
Are there any recent developments in the Jaipur and Delhi institutes?
The group of IIGJ institutes under the GJEPC’s umbrella has emerged as one of the most premium and trusted education and training institutions in the field of gems and jewellery in India. IIGJ Jaipur and Delhi are also doing exceptionally well and they have introduced various industry-relevant courses with the motive of imparting a high level of education and training to students. Recently, IIGJ Jaipur has affiliated with Rajasthan Institute of Leadership Development (ILD) Skills University to conduct a Degree programme in Bachelor of Vocation in Jewellery Design (B.Voc JD).
Recently, IIGJ students shone at the India Skills Competition held at Bangalore. How do you prepare students for such competitions? Are they given specific training?
IIGJ Mumbai students have always been winning the top positions in India skill-level competitions. A lot of emphasis is given on providing individual training to the students for jewellery and skill development.
Since inception, how many students have graduated from the institute? Do you also have campus placements?
More than 500 students have graduated from the institute. Yes, we do have campus placements and all our Graduate and Postgraduate students easily get employment in the jewellery industry. Their domain knowledge becomes the power differentiator and they are readily absorbed in the jewellery industry.
How are the Varanasi and Udupi institutes faring? How many students have enrolled in the first batch?
Both Udupi and Varanasi are in the very early stages of developing into full-fledged jewellery training institutes and it may take some years for students in those areas to accept jewellery as a career option.
IIGJ Mumbai Student Wins India Skills Competition, Regional Round
Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery (IIGJ) Mumbai reported that Ruchita Wagh, a degree student, has won the regional round of the India Skills Competition held in Bangalore from June 21st to 23rd. Sangramsingh Rajput, another degree student of IIGJ Mumbai, was the first runner-up in the same competition. Jewellery institutes from across India had participated in the competition. A total of 16 students were selected across the country, of which 11 were from IIGJ Mumbai.
In a statement, IIGJ chairman Kirit Bhansali congratulated Ruchita and Sangram on their achievement: “You have made IIGJ Mumbai proud with your sincere determination and serious efforts. This is just the beginning of your bright and blooming future and you are set to conquer the world with your intelligence. You have delighted us with you results and we wish you all the best for your future. Well done and keep up the great work!” IIGJ head of institute Sanjoy Ghosh, too, complimented the students on their accomplishments.
Both Wagh and Rajput will now compete in the India Skills (National Level) competition later this year. Three winners from India Skills Competition will undergo an intensive training programme for one year. One of the candidates will represent India at World Skills, 2019 (Kazan, Russia). Seven candidates from IIGJ Mumbai were shortlisted from India Skills Screening (Track 2) and one candidate from Andhra Pradesh (Track 1) had appeared for the regional level competition in Bangalore, which was scheduled from June 21st to 23rd, 2018. It was a three-day competition in which candidates were expected to make a jewellery piece crafted out of silver metal as per the test project (Design Specification Sheet) shared with them. The time limit for the project was 12 hours.
Minister of skill development and entrepreneurship, Anant Kumar Hegde and Rajesh Agarwal, joint secretary of ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship, were the chief guests for the event.