KIGALI, RWANDA — Every year, UAIT sends its Jewelry Design and Creative Arts students beyond the classroom and into real workshops, labs, and studios where the industry actually happens. For the 2025-2026 intake, that journey took six students across three countries — Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Korea — where they trained side-by-side with professionals, produced their own pieces, and represented UAIT on an international stage.
Below is the story of each host company and the students who trained there, told through the photos, videos, and experiences they brought back home. Use the tabs to explore the internship roadmap country by country.
Ngali Mining Ltd
Students: MUYISENGE Belyse & UWIMBABAZI BrigitteMUYISENGE Belyse and UWIMBABAZI Brigitte carried out their internship at Ngali Mining Ltd, one of Rwanda's established mining and minerals companies. Working together throughout the placement, the two students were introduced to the practical side of the minerals industry that feeds directly into jewelry and gemstone work — from handling raw materials to understanding how they are processed before reaching a designer's workbench.
Their time at Ngali Mining was more than an observation exercise. Belyse and Brigitte were involved in day-to-day activities on site, learning directly from industry professionals and building an understanding of the mining side of the value chain that most jewelry students never get to see up close. The experience gave them a fuller picture of where the materials they will one day shape as designers actually come from.
Their visit was also marked by a special moment when the UAIT Vice Chancellor visited Ngali Mining Ltd to see the students' progress firsthand — a visible sign of how seriously UAIT invests in following its students through every stage of their internship.
Ktsobe Co Ltd
Student: NYIRANTEZIMANA JustineNYIRANTEZIMANA Justine completed her internship at Ktsobe Co Ltd, where she gained direct, practical training that took her beyond the theory of the classroom. Working in a real production environment allowed her to apply what she had learned at UAIT while picking up new skills specific to the company's craft and workflow.
Throughout her placement, Justine deepened her hands-on experience — refining her technique, building confidence in a professional setting, and getting a genuine feel for what it means to work in the industry day after day. Her internship reflects UAIT's belief that real skill is built through real practice, not just in lectures.
Celebrating the Rwanda Cohort
After completing their placements, the Rwanda-based interns returned to UAIT's Kigali campus to present what they had learned to staff and fellow students — closing the loop between real-world experience and the classroom.
Tanzania Gemological Center
Student: AMANI Nicholaus SitayoAMANI Nicholaus Sitayo traveled to Tanzania to complete his internship at the Tanzania Gemological Center, a respected name in gemstone evaluation and jewelry craftsmanship in the region. Upon arrival, Amani was personally welcomed by the Center's director, a gesture that set the tone for a placement built on mentorship and genuine industry exposure.
During his time at the Center, Amani worked hands-on with gemstones and metals, producing his own pieces under the guidance of experienced professionals. He crafted a ring and a chain, and contributed to other finished products — turning what he had studied in theory at UAIT into tangible, wearable pieces of craftsmanship.
This experience gave Amani a close-up look at how a gemological center run to international standards operates, from evaluating raw stones to finishing a polished, sellable product — knowledge he now carries back into his studies and future career in jewelry design.
Korea Jewelry Federation
Students: IRADUKUNDA Neria & IMPANO ParfaitIRADUKUNDA Neria and IMPANO Parfait traveled from Kigali to South Korea for their internship at the Korea Jewelry Federation, one of the most advanced jewelry industry bodies in the world. From the moment they arrived, they were embraced by the local UAIT community in Korea, who supported them throughout their placement and made sure they made the most of every learning opportunity.
Their training covered a wide range of modern jewelry techniques: they took part in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) training, learning how digital design tools are used to plan and model jewelry pieces before they are ever crafted by hand. They also gained experience in gemstone evaluation, learning to assess quality, clarity, and value the way professionals do it, and visited the KC Gold Exchange to see how the gold and jewelry trade functions at a commercial level.
Beyond the workshop floor, Neria and Parfait also experienced Korean community life, attending church services with the local UAIT family and spending time with the broader UAIT community based in Korea — building relationships that extend far beyond the internship itself.
Upon returning to Rwanda, both students met with the UAIT Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Kigali campus to share what they had learned. Parfait later took the opportunity to share his Korea experience directly with current students, giving them a first-hand look at what awaits them if they pursue the same path — while Neria and Parfait each presented their completed internship to staff and peers.
🌍 2025-2026 Internship Program at a Glance
Join UAIT's Jewelry Design Program
Be part of a program that takes you beyond the classroom and into real workshops across Africa and Asia. Learn professional jewelry design and gain access to international internship opportunities like these.
Explore Jewelry Design Program📧 Admissions: admission@uait.ac.rw
📧 General: uait@uait.ac.rw
📞 Phone: +250 785 981 970 | +250 788 23 7349
📍 Location: Kimihurura, Kigali, Rwanda