15 Oct BHA School of Lighting awarded Academic Accreditation by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA)
It is with great pride, pleasure and excitement that we officially announce that BHA School of Lighting has been awarded with institutional academic accreditation by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) as online learning institution.
BHA SoL has satisfactorily met all the educational standards set by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) regarding administrative responsibility, institutional integrity, & academic quality.
The EAHEA is a non-governmental, independent, & globally recognised quality assurance body based in Europe. It provides international accreditation to universities, colleges, institutions, online learning centres, & corporations across more than 170 countries.
Website: www.eahea.org
What does this mean for students and our e-learning lighting design courses?
Being accredited by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) means:
- Global Recognition: Our qualifications & certificate courses are now recognised across more than 170 countries.
- Quality Assurance: Our programmes, teaching methods, and operations have passed rigorous evaluation.
- Credibility & Trust: Students, partners, and employers can be confident in the value and legitimacy of our education.
- Enhanced Opportunities: Accreditation opens doors to international collaboration, student mobility, and professional advancement.
This milestone marks a new chapter in our journey, one where BHA School of Lighting continues to shine as a trusted global leader in online lighting design education.
For more info about our EAHEA Academic Accreditation visit the link www.bhaschooloflighting.co.za/about/academic-accreditation.
With this exciting news, we invite all build environment professionals to learn more about our EAHEA accredited courses at www.bhaschooloflighting.co.za/courses.
Lighting Industry Recognition
BHA SoL Student News & More…
Celebrating Academic Excellence at BHA School of Lighting
We are proud and excited to congratulate Ismael Thamer from Baghdad, Iraq, a freelance lighting design specialist and co-owner of Qamraa Iq Lighting, on his successful graduation from the Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering e-learning course, completed on 13 September.
Throughout his studies, Ismael demonstrated a deep understanding of lighting principles, a strong technical foundation, and a creative & dynamic approach to lighting design. His commitment and the high standard of his assignments & exams have made a lasting impression.
If you’re interested in seeing Ismael’s amazing body of lighting design work visit his Instagram account here.
We are incredibly proud of his achievement and look forward to the continued impact he will make in the lighting industry across Iraq and beyond.
Congratulations to Students who completed BHA SoL Short Courses during September
Fatma Bayomi, Cairo, Egypt – Foundation Lighting Course
Anthony Girgis, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Foundation Lighting Course
Gaila Tulušienė, Kaunas, Lithuania – Foundation Lighting Course
Karthik Kothandaraman, Chennai, India – Foundation Lighting Course
Edward Baldrey, Hitara Park, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa – Relux Desktop Lighting Design Software Course
We’ve no doubt your lighting careers now have a solid base to propel you further into the lighting industy. Massive congrats to you all!
We wish the following BHA SoL students well, as they prepare for their First & Second Year exams of the Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering & Lighting Design course:
Ahmed Al Farsi, City of Barka, Sultanate of Oman – first year
Avinash Reddy Gopu, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – first year
Shamiljan Nadampadi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – first year
Shady Abdelsalam, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – second year
Prepare well, do your best, and we have no doubt you will make yourselves proud!
Welcome to all new BHA SoL students
Bonginkosi Ngcongo, Secunda, South Africa – Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering & Lighting Design Course
Toby Que, Metro Manilla, Philippines – Advanced Diploma in Illumination Engineering & Lighting Design Course
October BHA SoL Student Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the following past & present students celebrating their birthdays this month of October 2025! We hope you all have an amazing day and a successful year ahead, full of good health and prosperity!
Martina Mantaras, Montevideo, Uruguay (Graduate) – 4 October
Melissa Lentz, Sydney, Australia (Graduate) – 10 October
Carolina Pedraza Guevara, Bogota, Columbia – 12 October
Tammy Maharaj, Stanger, Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa – 14 October
Jeannine Vorster, Cape Town, South Africa – 15 October
Erin Jones, Cape Town, South Africa (Graduate) – 16 October
Syed Raed Ahmed, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates – 16 October
Ryan Jones-Hockley, Johannesburg, South Africa – 17 October
Bonginkosi Ngcongo, Secunda, South Africa – 23 October
Upcoming Enlightened Community Events
Cost: Free of Charge
Date: 16 October 2025
Time: 5:45pm for 6pm – 7pm CAT/CET
Presenter: Faraz Izhar, Lead Lighting Designer at AE7 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
About: This presentation by Faraz Izhar promises to be a forward-thinking exploration of how AI is reshaping lighting design. During this session the stage will be set by discussing AI’s rapid evolution and its growing role in creative fields. Faraz will examine how lighting design, a blend of technical expertise and emotional storytelling, is enriched by generative AI tools that enhance ideation, visualization, and communication.
Attendees will gain practical insights into visual applications such as using AI for concept metaphors, mood boards, and pre-visualizing lighting effects, as well as non-visual uses like automating project documentation with AI-powered agents. Faraz will walk participants through a typical workflow, spanning narrative building to project implementation, showcasing how tools like MidJourney, ChatGPT Plus, and Adobe Firefly can streamline processes while encouraging creative freedom. Practical examples will illustrate the transformative impact of these technologies on client collaboration and project outcomes.
The webinar will also address critical considerations, highlighting AI’s role as a creative assistant rather than a replacement for human intuition and ethics. Looking toward the future, Faraz will explore potential advancements, such as real-time integration with BIM and lighting simulation software, alongside strategies for responsible and effective AI adoption. This session is a must-attend for professionals eager to embrace AI’s potential while maintaining the irreplaceable human touch in lighting design.
New YouTube Video: CRAFTING LIGHT, RESPECTING DARKNESS: THE ROLE OF THE DARKNESS DESIGNER with Francesco Guastella of ESA Engineering
To start this segment, we extend our massive thanks to Francesco Guastella of ESA Engineering for collaborating with BHA School of Lighting for this thought-provoking session, which offers practical insights and interdisciplinary reflections for architects, lighting designers, engineers, ecologists, and creatives, inviting all to rethink the role of light, and above all, of darkness, in our spaces and lives.
🔹 About this event
Discover how responsible lighting design can draw inspiration from anthropology, animal behaviour, and human physiology. Francesco explains why designing with luminance, rather than simply illuminance, is a revolutionary and essential approach for well-being, sustainability, and energy efficiency.
Darkness is not the enemy of design, but a material to be respected, preserved, and shaped with care. In an era of over-illumination, where light is often overused and designed without awareness of its broader impacts, Francesco proposes a shift in perspective: embracing the role of the darkness designer. This is a professional who works not only with light, but also with shadow, darkness, and their symbolic, biological, and perceptual value.
Light and Learning in the AI Era – BHA Educators’ join Martin Klaasen on Light Talk
In this last news segment of the October newsletter, we extend a BIG sincere thank you to Martin Klaasen for hosting us on his Light Talk Podcast and for inviting us into this important conversation about AI’s role in education.
In this episode Philip Hammond and Daniel Hammond from BHA School of Lighting are hosted by Martin who is the Managing Partner at Nulty+, Founder of Klaasen Lighting Design and the VLD.Community , where we explored how artificial intelligence is changing lighting education and practice. As leaders in online learning since 2017, we share insights on how to balance AI tools with meaningful student engagement and learning.
The revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence on lighting education took centre stage in this thought-provoking conversation with Martin. As pioneers in online lighting education since 2017, we offered unique insights into how AI is transforming both learning methodologies and the lighting profession itself.
Watch more Light Talk episodes on Martin’s YouTube channel HERE.
INTERESTED IN OUR EAHEA ACCREDITED LIGHTING DESIGN E-LEARNING COURSES? Learn more at www.bhaschooloflighting.co.za/courses
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BHA School of Lighting
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