Diamond Education College; Opening the doors to the diamond industry
Diamond Education College; A cut above the rest
Diamond Education College; Add a sparkle to your curriculum vitae

The Location

The Diamond Education College is located in the new South African Diamond Precinct in the suburb of Bedfordview, Johannesburg, close to the OR Thambo International Airport.

The SA Diamond Precinct is the hub of the South African Diamond Industry and is the home of major industry companies, polishing factories, jewellery factories, diamond grading laboratories such as Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) and European Gemmological Laborotary (EGL), as well as shipping companies and diamond equipment supply companies.

The physical address of the college is:-

Diamond Education College
2nd Floor
1 Skeen Boulevard
Bedfordview
SOUTH AFRICA

Click here for a map

The phone, fax and e-mail are:-

Phone: +27 11 334-5917
Cell: +27 72 699 5774
Fax: +27 11 334-5917
Email - dec@dec.co.za
Skype: dec_joburg

About The College

The Lecturers

The lecturer of the Diamond Education College is Dennis White.

Photo of Dennis White

His achievements include:

  • More than 40 years experience in the diamond industry.
  • Trained in the United Kingdom on the Piermatic automatic polishing machines.
  • Specialist in polishing all sizes of round brilliant and fancy cut diamonds.
  • Considered a Master in the diamond industry.
  • Biggest diamond cut & polished by Mr. White - finished weight 84 carats – fancy yellow, Barion cut.
  • Managed production of a De Beers Site holding company and amassed a wealth of experience and expertise in the diamond industry.
  • Purchased rough diamonds direct from the diggers, mining companies and tender houses.
  • Traveled to various African countries sourcing rough diamonds.
  • Involved in alluvial diamond mining operations in Equatorial Africa.
  • Opened his own business and is well knows for his knowledge and integrity in the diamond industry.
  • Qualified gemmologist.
  • Member of Board of Directors – Diamond Merchants Association of Southern Africa.
  • Member of Masters Diamond Cutters Association.

At the end of 2009 Dennis decided it was time to “give back” knowledge and information to empower prospective entrants into the diamond industry and joined the family of the Diamond Education College as a lecturer.

Tienie Barnes (1944-2016), founder of the college.

Photo of Tienie Barnes

His achievments included:

  • Was a Master Diamond Cutter.
  • Managed one of the largest diamond cutting works in South Africa.
  • Owned and operated his own diamond cutting works.
  • Invented the diamond marking machine.
  • Introduced a Rough Diamond Evaluation & Grading course for the first time anywhere in the world.
  • Founded the original Diamond Education College during 1996 and was the first institute in South Africa to offer full training to all South Africans.
  • Lectured on diamonds for over 40 years.
  • Was a qualified gemologist.
  • Was a graduate in Criterion Reference Instruction (CIR).
  • Was a graduate in Interaction Management.
  • Had a diploma in Allen Management (California).
  • Was a member of the Diamond Merchant's Association of South Africa.
  • Was a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.
  • Developed the training standards for the diamond industry for the MQA.
  • Wrote the training material for the education of students wishing to comply with the diamond industry training standards.

The Diamond Education College Quality Policy

The Diamond Education College provides training in the evaluation and grading of rough diamonds, marking rough diamonds and the cutting and polishing of rough diamonds that meets our customer and learner requirements. We have established a quality management system that meets the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard as well as the requirements of SAQA, NQF and the MQA, thereby ensuring that we continually improve the level of quality in the service that we provide to our existing and potential customers and learners.

The quality management system shall be implemented, maintained and continually improved.

This Quality Policy shall provide a framework for establishing quality objectives at management review meetings.

Diamond Education College shall prepare documented information that describes the processes required to implement the quality management system. This documented information shall include:

  • Core business and supporting processes
  • Policies, procedures, matrixes and records required by Diamond Education College to ensure the effective planning, operation and control of its core business and supporting processes
Diamond Education College shall:
  • Comply with applicable laws and regulations (www.actsonline.co.za)
  • Follow a concept of continuous improvement and make the best use of its management resources in quality related matters
  • Communicate its quality objectives and its performance against these objectives to personnel as well as outside interested parties where requested to do so
  • Take due care to ensure that activities are conducted in a safe and secure environment in the interest of personnel, learners and others who come into contact with our work