Architectural ironmongers, builders’ merchants and door hardware students across the world have been finding out their results after taking industry qualifications through the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI).
Some 87 learners have achieved the GAI Certificate in Architectural Hardware, and a further 40 have completed the much GAI Diploma. This is one of the highest number of successful learners since the start of the GAI education programme more than 50 years ago, the Guild reports.
Learners on the GAI education programme in 2015/16 have come from 27 countries, with near half, 47pc based outside the UK; particularly this year from South Africa, Dubai and Hong Kong.
Maria Powell, president of the GAI, said: “I am inordinately proud of the achievements of our learners this year. These are not your ordinary markers of success in a specialist industry, but genuinely tough and meaningful qualifications for hardware professionals who play a vital role in the global construction industry.
“Qualified architectural ironmongers work with architects, interior designers, contractors and others to schedule and specify the hardware for every door and window in a building. It’s a complex, responsible role, and a hard one to master, given that hardware is subject to more than 58 British and European standards.
“The GAI has been providing an education, qualification and CPD programme for people who work in and around the architectural ironmongery industry since 1961. We deliver the only recognised programme in the world that leads to a qualification in architectural ironmongery to British and European standards. I am really looking forward to congratulating these newly qualified professionals at our education awards event on November 2.”
The GAI Certificate in Architectural Hardware consists of two stages with a total of 25 education modules covering everything a qualified architectural ironmonger is required to know. The modules are made available online to students, via the GAI Education Hub, featuring learning blocks with explanations, animations and video clips, all geared to engage learners in digestible chunks. Beyond the Certificate, learners can continue their studies to achieve the prestigious GAI Diploma. This stage focuses entirely on the skills and learning needed for scheduling, of particular importance to those architectural ironmongers working on projects being built to UK and European standards across the globe.
Online enrolments for the GAI Diploma start again this month. The new prospectus is also available to download from the GAI Education Hub.
