The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) distance education programs, including student workrooms, will be available in China through a cooperative program at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). GIA's Graduate Gemologist (GG), Jewelry Design, accelerated Graduate Diamonds and accelerated Graduate Colored Stones programs are already available on campus at SJTU. Prospective students will now also have access to GIA education programs on-campus and through distance education.
"Education is the cornerstone of GIA's mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry, and this initiative with SJTU brings us a step closer to providing more accessible gem and jewelry education to students around the world," said Duncan Pay, vice president and chief academic officer.
"Offering distance education courses in addition to our successful eight years of on-campus programs will provide more choices for jewelry practitioners and enthusiasts in China," said Shi Jian, director of the jewelry and fashion industry research center of SJTU.
The first GIA program offered at SJTU was the GG in 2011. The offering expanded in 2012 to include the Jewelry Design, accelerated Graduate Diamonds and accelerated Graduate Colored Stones programs. SJTU has hosted 15 resident GG programs and 12 Jewelry Design courses since 2011. More than 500 students have graduated from these programs at SJTU with diplomas from GIA.
For more information, visit http://www.giataiwan.com.tw (Chinese) or https://www.gia.edu/gem-education/taipei (English).