MDIS unveils jewellery design courses and facilities via joint venture with JDMISPress Releases
Singapore, 16 August 2018 – The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) today unveiled the Jewellery Design and Management International School (JDMIS) at its Stirling Road campus. The unveiling officiates a joint venture between the two institutes, where MDIS holds a 40 per cent stake in JDMIS with an investment value of about S$1 million, and adds jewellery design to MDIS’ portfolio of diverse skills-based programmes and courses.
Founded in 2007, JDMIS is Singapore's only specialised jewellery school providing end-to-end jewellery education. The school’s founder and dean, Mrs Tanja Manuela Sadow is an award-winning designer and renowned jewellery educator with more than 30 years of experience across the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore. Since its establishment 10 years ago in Singapore, JDMIS has trained over 5,000 individuals across 56 countries, as well as top local and international brands.
The unveiling ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honour Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Deputy Chairman, Education Government Parliamentary Commission. It included a tour of the brand new 5,200 square foot facility.
“Our partnership provides synergies that allow both institutes to tap on each other’s strengths for long term, sustainable growth. JDMIS’ programmes complement our School of Fashion and Design’s curricula and allows us to offer more diversified programmes and courses, to nurture future-ready graduates and contribute to Singapore’s diverse workforce needs,” said Dr R Theyvendran, MDIS Secretary-General.
Ms Tanja Sadow, Dean and Founder of JDMIS, concurred: “Through this partnership, we are able to pair our expertise in educating jewellery designers, fabricators and entrepreneurs with MDIS’ focus in providing skills-based education. It also allows us to offer our unique and comprehensive programmes to a wider base of local and international students.”
State-of-the-art Learning Facilities and Programmes at JDMIS
The newly renovated jewellery school spans four dedicated classrooms, two specialised jewellery manufacturing workshops and a computer-aided design (CAD) lab with state-of-the-art 3D jewellery software. Students and graduates also benefit from a Designer’s Lounge, a large flexible co-working space where they can meet up and practise their craft. Additionally, a fully functional retail space – the “Creative Jewellery Studio” (CJS) also allows students to launch their brands and jewellery careers. For the opening event, the CJS hosted more than 30 independent local and international jewellery designers, including award winners and up-and-coming talent.
Yet another key feature of JDMIS is its expansive collection of over 1,500 precious gemstones and jewellery, collected over 38 years by Ms Sadow herself. It is one of the largest educational collections in Singapore and South East Asia, and an inspiration for students and aspiring jewellery designers and entrepreneurs.
JDMIS’ modular programmes - certificate courses that lead to diplomas and advanced diplomas, include fine jewellery design, precious metal arts, fashion jewellery arts, gem trade practises, trends and jewellery entrepreneurship. Designed to be flexible, students can either enrol in an intensive two-month diploma programme or take up individual, modular certificates over a longer period of time. (See factsheet: ‘Educational Possibilities at JDMIS’ for programme details).
Educational experiences beyond the classroom are also a key focus at JDMIS. The institute regularly conducts overseas expeditions to a pearl farm in Indonesia by global leader in eco-pearling Atlas Pearls, to gem mines and markets in Sri Lanka with Sapphire Capital Group, as well as to the famous UBM Jewellery and Gem Fair in Hong Kong. These field expeditions allow students to experience first-hand jewellery procurement, logistics, and trading.
Many JDMIS alumni have followed their passions and become successful jewellery designers and entrepreneurs. Alumnus Ernest Yeo, shared: “I am very impressed with the quality of JDMIS’ courses; the lecturers and my learning experience with the school was most fulfilling and engaging. JDMIS not only functions as a training school, it has also created a unique community filled with budding jewellery enthusiasts, designers, artists, entrepreneurs and many others from all walks of life, which facilitate the exchange of knowledge, ideas and rich experiences.”
“I was a broadcast engineer but I’ve always had a passion for jewellery. Now, I finally get the chance to do what I love – design jewellery and launch my own brand, EY Designs. JDMIS made it happen for me.”