← Back to blog Article
Class of 2026 — where our graduates are heading
A short note from the YGIL team following the most recent graduation cohort, with a few example career paths.
Another group of students has finished their programmes at YGIL and moved on to the next thing — whether that is into a trading family business, a jewellery workshop, or further study.
Where the cohort is going
We follow up with graduates informally and a few recurring stories stand out:
- A few returned to family gem businesses with a more structured grading approach
- Several went on to the GIA distance e-learning pathway to keep building credentials
- Some have enrolled in weekend workshops to refresh skills before the trading season
What we are learning
The cohort approach is shaping how we sequence the curriculum. Practical-weeks-long programmes benefit from very short pre-course readings — even a simple glossary of terms used in the lab helps students hit the ground running.
We are also building a small alumni mailing list. If you are a YGIL alumnus and would like to be added, write to yangongemlab@gmail.com.
