GAI Education programme continues to expand its global reach

The number of international students on the GAI‘s Diploma programme surpasses those in the UK for the first time ever. 

Almost 60% of students on last year’s Diploma programme were from outside the UK. 54 students passed the stage three exam to become GAI Diploma holders (DipGAI). 28 were international students and 26 were UK based.

Half of the international students were from the Middle East and there were learners from New Zealand and Cyprus. It was the first time ever students hailed from these two countries.

The core of the GAI education portfolio is separated into two qualifications: the Certificate in Architectural Hardware (CiAH) and the GAI Diploma. In total, exams across all stages were sat in 22 different countries by over 300 learners.

This year also saw 90% of students pass their CiAH stage one exam. This is one of the highest pass rates to date, and 80% of students passed stage two.

‘Incredibly proud’ of programme progress

Rachel Tipton, manager of the GAI education programme, talks about the past year being tough for learners, with many on furlough.

She says that means all who progress through the programme should be ‘incredibly proud of the resilience and dedication’ shown. 

“The GAI has been providing a unique education, qualification and CPD programme for door hardware professionals since 1961. It’s the only recognised programme in the world that leads to a qualification in architectural ironmongery to British and European standards.

“It can be used to demonstrate a commitment to professional development and to competence in the wider construction industry.”

The CiAH consists of two stages, with 24 education modules covering everything an architectural ironmonger is required to know. This is supported by eight block assessments to test the students’ understanding.

Once learners gain their CiAH, they can continue their studies to achieve the GAI Diploma. This stage three exam 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 UK and European standards across the globe.

Upon completion of the diploma, they can use the designation DipGAI, an industry recognised designation of professionalism.

For more on the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers’ education programme, visit: www.gai.org.uk/Education

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