GAI: Architectural ironmongers celebrate latest education programme results

The next generation of architectural ironmongers are being celebrated as the latest Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) exam results are released.

Exams were sat by 333 learners across all three stages of the GAI online training programme.  Learners came from 22 different countries, with 54% of them based outside the UK.  There has been a particularly high number of learners in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, India and Singapore.

In the most recent cohort, 97% of those taking Stage One of the Certificate in Architectural Hardware (CiAH), and 92% taking Stage Two passed the exams. Over half of the students completing the GAI Diploma also passed.

These students will be celebrated along with the previous year’s students at the GAI Education Awards Double Celebration on 3 March 2022. Gold, Silver and Bronze medal awards will be given to the top students in the GAI Diploma and prize awards for the top three students in the CiAH.

‘Testament to how hard learners have worked this year’

Rachel Tipton, manager of the GAI education programme (pictured above), comments: “The past year and a half has been particularly tough for learners, as many have been furloughed at some stage, but the majority of students passed their final exams which is testament to how hard learners have worked this year and the support given by the Guild’s education committee. 

“We’re looking forward to being able to host the Education Awards once again in Spring next year. It’s great for the learners and all of the volunteers who share their knowledge and experience, and who play such a vital role in the education programme, to be recognised by the wider industry.”

The core of the education portfolio is separated into two qualifications. The 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 the students’ understanding.

GAI Diploma

Once learners have gained their CiAH, they can continue their studies to achieve the GAI Diploma. This stage focuses entirely 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 British and European standards across the globe.

Once they have completed the diploma, they become a DipGAI, an industry recognised symbol of professionalism.

The new 2021/22 education programme 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 Registered Architectural Ironmonger (RegAI) through the Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme.

The programme was revamped last year to make the process more flexible and give busy professionals more opportunity to gain CPD points.

Enrolments are open until 17 December 2021.

For further information on the GAI education programme, visit www.gai.org.uk/Education

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