Academic Leadership
The JDMIS is a leader in the jewellery arts education Arena, providing an extensive curriculum which covers the widest scope of any institution in South East Asia. In order to maintain and improve this standing, the quality of our academics is of utmost importance; as such, the JDMIS has a specialized management unit devoted to academic issues, the Academic Board.
The academic board consists of individuals with interest and expertise in the matters of academic governance of the JDMIS. Tanja Sadow, as Dean, will be responsible for convening and working with this board to address matters related to curriculum development, student and teacher performance and educational effectiveness. This board includes:
Tanja M. Sadow
Principal / Dean,
Tanja M. Sadow, Dean of the JDMIS, will provide guidance, by way of her three decades of experience in the field of education in Jewellery Arts, continued support in curriculum development and will oversee the quality of instruction. Tanja’s public and professional reputation in Singapore, and throughout the Jewellery Industry, together with her extensive network of contacts within the jewellery education, retail and wholesale industries will provide an invaluable support to the JDMIS and its students.
Genevieve Woo
Broadcast Journalist and Presenter, Mediacorp
As a professional presenter, actor and business executive, Genevieve has a unique insight into the human presentation element. In a business environment where personal presence and communication is as vital a facet to success as talent and workmanship, Genevieve's contributions to our academic program's communications courses will be invaluable.
Bhavik Bhatt
Senior Brand Consultant, Bonsey Design
Bhavik's passion for branding and design have left their mark on the JDMIS' own image since its inception. An interior architect, brand manager and product designer, Bhavik brings many elements of the commercial world to the school's design and business programmes.
Alex Zupancich
Director, Jewellery Design & Management International School
Alex's familiarity with the jewellery industry, love for new technologies used in jewellery design and fabrication, and his experience starting and operating business in three continents helps guide the schools business and design programmes. Alex is also the primary point of contact for administrative processes related to the school's academic operations and can steer these to ensure the board's policy decisions are effectively implemented.
Instructors
Students at the JDMIS are ensured rewarding training experiences by the quality of their instructors. All JDMIS instructors and visiting instructors are experienced artists, educators and/or industry members and are selected because of their knowledge and passion for the jewellery field. While many may not have stratospheric qualifications themselves, such documents matter little in the a vocation such as jewellery - where artistic ability, industry experience and strong ability and desire to share knowledge are paramount.
JDMIS regular, Singapore-based instructors include:
JDMIS also maintains on record the following instructors who, in the past have conducted specialized jewelelry training as part of JDMIS programmes and who may, from time to time, return to JDMIS to assist with ongoing courses or advanced skills training:
Adele Van Vuuren (BA Fine Arts, Stellenbosch); Adele is a talented Metal Clay and Traditional Metals artist with a jewellery line that is sold on three continents under the brand “VVJ”. She helped develop JDMIS' metalsmithing course and when her business commitments allow her, returns to JDMIS to share advanced techniques with her former students and new friends.
Erica Alejandra Delgardo (Adv certifications from Revere Academy, others.) Erica is a silversmith, goldsmith, and jewelry designer with 12 years experience in the industry. Erica runs her own successful retail jewellery studio in Houston TX and JDMIS was privileged to have her join us while she was in Singapore. We look forward to her return with exciting advanced techniques to share with our students.
Bernadette Knijf (BA Art History, Leiden); Bea is an art historian and jewelelry artist who has travelled extensively and fostered her passion for jewellery throughout. Having studied under established jewellery artists in the Netherlands, Mexico and the USA, Bea shares her knowledge in jewellery fabrication and jewellery history and trends when she is in Singapore.
Thomas Franke (Dip. Int. Design SGD, Germany); Thomas experienced jewellery through a traditional apprenticeship system in Germany under a reputable fine jeweller and has been a freelance jewellery designer and fabricator using traditional techniques through his own brand, “Franke Schmuck Herstellung” since 2002. Thomas contributes to the JDMIS Precious Metal Arts programmes when in Singapore.
Tay Way Hua (BFA Graphic Design, MCAD); Way is an award winning and established graphic design professional as well as being a practicing jewellery designer and artist. Way combines his refined aesthetic with well-honed technical skills to help our Digital Jewellery Design students achieve the most from their CAD/CAM training.
The school also invites internationally renowned jewellery artists and educators to visit Singapore and share their knowledge in the form of specialized short workshops on specific skills and topics.