The  International Gemological Institute (IGI) graduated its first polished  diamond-grading class, offered in collaboration with Fudan University’s  Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA). The ten-day IGI/SIVA course,  which began July 5 and culminated in a graduation ceremony on July 16,  was designed to provide students with a thorough foundation in  international grading standards. Graduates were equipped to identify,  grade and understand diamonds according to world grading and market  standards.

Following the success of its previous pilot classes, IGI and SIVA  initiated an agreement in February to develop gemological programs to  support the school’s jewelry design curriculum. In an effort to make its  first joint offering more suitable for Chinese students, IGI utilized  years of market research and added several chapters specially customized  for the nation.

Jean Mangnay, IGI's head of education, and Wang Yuting, IGI's  Shanghai-based instructor, led the course. Mangnay said, “It was clear  the students wanted to make their mark in this industry. They spent a  huge amount of time and energy trying to understand the core values of  diamond practice.”

He continued, “It was quickly obvious these  students wanted to soak up as much gemological knowledge as they  possibly could from their course materials and interactions with  teachers.”

IGI has been running educational programs since 1981.  Offering career-oriented students the option to pursue the IGI Graduate  Gemologist Diploma, these programs are taught in more than a dozen  countries, including India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Italy,  Turkey and Belgium. In China, IGI has graduated more than 1,000 students  since 2000.

Ref: <a href="http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=32022" target="_blank">Diamonds.net</a>