Education
BDB symposium highlights future of diamond research and education
The second edition of the Advances in Gem and Diamond Research and Technology (AGDRT) Symposium opened on 22nd September at the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), bringing together leading global researchers, scientists, and gemmologists.
Organised by the Gemmological Institute of India (GII) with support from BDB, GIA, and IGI, the symposium serves as a platform for presenting cutting-edge research in gem and diamond science.
Welcoming delegates, GII Chairman Mehul Shah highlighted GII’s new academic collaboration with Sigma University, which will introduce a three-year degree course in diamonds and jewellery—aimed at elevating artisans to graduate status. He acknowledged the support of BDB, GJEPC, IGI, and GIA, and thanked the international research community for their participation.
Distinguished attendees included BDB President Anoop Mehta, GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali, GIA VP Tom Moses, Prof. Ramchandra Rao of IIT Madras, DANAT Bahrain’s Noora Jamsheer, and experts from Russia, Switzerland, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
The two-day AGDRT 2025 will run from 22–23 September 2025.
The Shrimad Rajchandra Skill Development Centre, set up in partnership with the Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI) in September 2022, is helping tribal youth in Dharampur, Valsad, in southern Gujarat build sustainable careers in the gem and jewellery sector.
The centre offers training in jewellery CAD design, a key skill in modern jewellery manufacturing. Supported by CSR contributions from SEEPZ-based jewellery companies, the courses follow the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and are conducted by certified trainers using advanced infrastructure.
Since its launch, the centre has trained 170 candidates across eight batches, achieving a placement rate of over 65%. Graduates have joined reputed jewellery units in Gujarat and Maharashtra, while others have started small enterprises locally.
The Dharampur initiative demonstrates how industry partnerships and focused training can create real employment opportunities and strengthen rural livelihoods. GJSCI plans to continue expanding this model in the years ahead.
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