After exams were sat in 23 countries by 355 learners, the next generation of architectural ironmongers has its Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) education results. So far, 102 students have attained the Certificate in Architectural Hardware and 32 students have now completed the GAI Diploma this year.
The Guild’s programme continues to grow overseas, with near half, 49pc of learners based outside the UK. The Guild reports a particularly high number of learners in the UAE, China, India, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Rachel Tipton, manager of the GAI education programme, pictured, said: “The GAI has been providing a unique education, qualification and CPD programme for people who work in and around the architectural ironmongery industry since 1961. It’s the only recognised programme in the world that leads to a qualification in architectural ironmongery to British and European standards, and with over 60 of these standards to get to grips with, gaining this qualification is something that all our students should be incredibly proud of. We look forward to celebrating with our newly qualified Diploma holders at this year’s Education Awards.”
The core of the education portfolio is separated into two qualifications. The Certificate in Architectural Hardware (CiAH) consists of two stages with 24 education modules covering everything an architectural ironmonger is required to know, supported with eight block assessments to test a student’s understanding.
Once learners have gained their CiAH, they can continue towards the GAI Diploma. This stage focuses on the skills and learning needed for scheduling the architectural ironmongery, electric hardware and key control for a project, and is of particular importance to those architectural ironmongers working on projects being built to UK and European standards. Once they have completed the diploma, they become a DipGAI, an industry recognised symbol.
The 2018/19 prospectus has been published on the GAI website, outlining the qualifications, course content and training support available. It also gives further information on becoming a RegAI through the Continued Professional Development (CPD). The programme was revamped last year to make the process more flexible and give busy professionals more opportunity to gain CPD points.
Enrolments are now open until December 31. Download the prospectus here: www.gai.org.uk/prospectus.
