ColumnistsJul 21, 2026
Sherry Smith: Shattering the Illusion of the ‘Either/Or’ Diamond MarketSmith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
SourcingOct 17, 2019
Univ. Tackles Sustainability, CSR with New Grad Program
The University of Delaware developed its new Minerals, Materials and Society graduate certificate with the mid-career professional in mind.
Newark, Del.—Today’s market requires jewelry companies and professionals to address sustainability and responsible sourcing, but the question of how to do so isn’t easily answered.
In response to the growing need for sustainable development training, the University of Delaware has developed a Minerals, Materials and Society graduate certificate program.
Under the leadership of Saleem H. Ali, Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at UD, the MMS program is among the first of its kind in the United States, according to the university.
Classes start in January, and the program will take an interdisciplinary approach to linking science and policy issues associated with mineral and material sourcing.
Designed with mid-career professionals in mind, particularly those in sustainability and supply chain transparency, the program aims to equip students with the skills they’ll need for jobs pertaining to sustainable supply chain management, and environmental and social responsibility.
Offering a comprehensive look at the mineral supply chain and key skills and solutions is vital for the industry, which is “very vulnerable to reputational loss” because jewelry is not essential for survival, Ali told National Jeweler.
“It’s one where you really need people to feel a certain sense of comfort about buying a product that is responsibly sourced,” he said. “That’s why understanding where minerals come from and what are the vulnerabilities in terms of environmental and social impact is particularly relevant.”
The sustainability program will examine not only mined mineral resources but also man-made materials as well as recycled and remanufactured options.
The program also will explore “post-carbon communities,” reinventing communities that have been dependent on extractive industries to find alternative sustainable livelihoods.
“One of the goals of this program is to not only help different sectors understand what the issues are but also how to address them—what’s happening, what are the options, how do you answer the questions? And then—how does the whole industry move forward? What do you do after extractives? How can you move the needle?” said MMS Program Manager Patricia Syvrud, a GIA graduate gemologist and former executive director of the World Diamond Council.
Classes are offered in a hybrid model. Most will be taken online, but students also will participate in one-to-two-week intensive on-campus classes during the summer and winter sessions and field course offerings.
There are three required classes: Certification Systems for Sustainable Development, Minerals and Ecological Economics, and Sustainable Management of Risk in Industry.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Additionally, students must choose an experiential laboratory and then achieve the 15-credit requirement through chosen electives, which are either on-campus or online courses.
Experiential learning opportunities and research partnerships are offered through collaborations with several international universities, including the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Materials Institute in Australia and the National University of Science and Technology in Russia.
For example, one of the modules features a study-abroad program in Russia. “Innovations in Legacy Mining: Lessons from the World’s Largest Iron Ore Mine in Russia” will focus on improving management of the coexistence between agriculture and mining.
The university is welcoming undergraduate students to take courses offered through the program or professionals who want to take individual courses in relation to a specific area.
Applications are being accepted now on a rolling basis.
The 15-credit program can be completed in 18-24 months; the cost is $1,100 per credit hour.
Ultimately, UD hopes companies in the jewelry industry will see the importance of the certificate and offer to pay their employees’ tuition and/or give them time off for the on-campus courses (without them having to use vacation time), or that companies will sponsor students in developing countries so they can get the certificate.
“This is a good opportunity for them to help with social mobility of the communities where they’re operating and getting their minerals,” Ali said.
UD also is looking for financial support through its MMS Leadership Council, which industry leaders can join; a council campaign with an honorary industry chair will be launched shortly.
Financial support will provide funds for scholarships, stakeholder engagement meetings and development of sector-specific industry training programs.
For full program information, visit the UD website.
Experiential learning opportunities and research partnerships are offered through collaborations with several international universities, including the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Materials Institute in Australia and the National University of Science and Technology in Russia.
For example, one of the modules features a study-abroad program in Russia. “Innovations in Legacy Mining: Lessons from the World’s Largest Iron Ore Mine in Russia” will focus on improving management of the coexistence between agriculture and mining.
The university is welcoming undergraduate students to take courses offered through the program or professionals who want to take individual courses in relation to a specific area.
Applications are being accepted now on a rolling basis.
The 15-credit program can be completed in 18-24 months; the cost is $1,100 per credit hour.
Ultimately, UD hopes companies in the jewelry industry will see the importance of the certificate and offer to pay their employees’ tuition and/or give them time off for the on-campus courses (without them having to use vacation time), or that companies will sponsor students in developing countries so they can get the certificate.
“This is a good opportunity for them to help with social mobility of the communities where they’re operating and getting their minerals,” Ali said.
UD also is looking for financial support through its MMS Leadership Council, which industry leaders can join; a council campaign with an honorary industry chair will be launched shortly.
Financial support will provide funds for scholarships, stakeholder engagement meetings and development of sector-specific industry training programs.
For full program information, visit the UD website.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
Events & AwardsJul 21, 2026
Apollo Funds Completes Emerald AcquisitionFormer Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.
CollectionsJul 21, 2026
Graff’s New Butterfly High Jewelry Brooches MetamorphosizeThe 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
