Sri Lanka's Gems and Jewellery industry can be traced back to some 3,000 years or so. They are part of many legends, folk lore and literary works and are much written about by early travellers. These gems have adorned royalty and celebrities through the ages and even today, are sought after by the rest of world. Out of about 200 minerals that are classified as gemstones, around 75 varieties are found in our country, making our island one of the most important geographic locations in the world for gemstones. In order to convert this natural resource at our doorstep into a value added product, Jewellery Design becomes imperative. The Jewellery industry in Sri Lanka is developed but we do not have designers who look at trends that are at the fore in Europe, North America and the UK and also design products that would work in these markets. The main reason for this is the non availability and access to education in Jewellery Design and therefore the inability for the country to produce designers and/or professional Jewellery Designers at an international level.Jewellery is a craft base form of study, centuries old and steeped in history. Two parts make up the whole study form, in that design and manufacture go hand in hand to complete the programme. AOD's newly established Jewellery Design & Manufacture programme will undoubtedly meet the needs an industry requires for it's further development and expansion of existing industry. The programme hopes to invite all those interested persons who have been waiting long to formalize their talent, engage an interest, follow a dream or simply acquire a new talent in the Jewellery Design field.The programme is structured conveniently for interested students and professionals. 3 hours of lecture time over 4 days a week will be attractive to students, working professionals, non working interested students alike. Students begin with basic skills they will need fundamentally to visually communicate their ideas. They are, figure drawing, still life drawing, history of Art and basic principles of Design.Students will then move on to specific subjects in Jewellery such as Jewellery illustration, rendering techniques, geometrical drawing, Gemology, Trend Forecasting, Jewellery Retailing and Marketing, Digital Design for jewellery and in the workshop they will acquire the ability to understand the properties and characteristics of materials for metalwork and jewellery-making.Student will be able to make basic pieces of jewllery such as Rings, Pendants, Chain Links, Earrings, Prongs, Bezels etc. and realize their creations by the end of the program. In the manufacturing section of the program, students will learn processes such as Melting, Hammering, Rolling, Wire Drawing, Soldering, Tube Forming, Setting, Drilling. They will be exposed to different materials other than the basic metals, to enhance their knowledge in using non-traditional methods.The duration of the BTEC National Certificate (NC) course is one year.