The Locksmith Journal May/Jun 2021 - Issue 74 | Page 5

Notice Board

EDUCATION PROGRAMME CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS GLOBAL REACH

» THE NUMBER OF international students enrolled in the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers ’ ( GAI ) Diploma programme has surpassed those in the UK for the first time in its history .
Almost 60 % of students enrolled in last year ’ s Diploma programme were located outside the UK . 54 students passed the stage three exam to become GAI Diploma holders ( DipGAI ), of which 28 were international students and 26 were based in the UK . Half of the international students were based in the Middle East and , for the first time , this cohort of Diploma successes also included learners from New Zealand and Cyprus .
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 , one of the highest pass rates to date , and 80 % of students passed stage two .
Rachel Tipton , manager of the GAI education programme , said :
“ The past year has been particularly tough for learners , with many being furloughed , so everyone who has progressed through the education programme should be incredibly proud of the resilience and dedication they ’ ve 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 , and 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 , supported by eight block assessments to test the students ’ understanding .
Once learners have gained 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 . Once they have completed the diploma , they can use the designation DipGAI , an industry recognised designation of professionalism .
To find out more about the GAI education programme , visit : www . gai . org . uk / Education

Classroom training returns at DHF ’ s academy in Tamworth

» DOOR & HARDWARE FEDERATION ( DHF ) opened its classroom training at the end of April . The Tamworth-based trade association has , since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic , been providing a mix of online training and examinations via its ‘ Distance Learning Programme ’ ( DLP ), with delegates able to continue to successfully meet their training obligations , albeit from the safety of their own locations .
From the end of April , learners can now once again return to DHF ’ s training academy , a self-contained building on its own premises , with just eight delegates permitted on each course and social distancing rules strictly adhered to . Ordinarily , the organisation ’ s spacious academy can accommodate up to 25 people per course , but as Head of Commercial Operations , Patricia
Sowsbery-Stevens explains , safety remains a top priority for learners .
“ As our courses are fully accredited by Ofqual , we were given the ‘ all clear ’ for classroom training to resume from 8 March from the Department of Education ( DfE ).
“ However , we have taken this additional time to ensure that a full risk assessment has been undertaken and a deep clean completed in preparation for opening day . When our classroom learning returned last June , we ensured delegates remained at a safe two-metre distance from one another , provided hand sanitiser , gloves , face coverings and disposable cups for all attendees , and learners were reassured by the spacious environment , both inside and out . We will once again be implementing these initiatives .
“ DHF has worked assiduously to ensure that our members and those attending our training courses have received a continuous and highly effective training provision throughout the past year ,” she continues . “ Feedback on our online provision has been outstanding , but we do understand that , for some , there is no substitute for face-to-face engagement . We are therefore delighted to be able to resume ‘ normal service ’ shortly and have updated our training calendar accordingly . We look forward to welcoming people back to the academy in Tamworth .”
www . dhfonline . org . uk
MAY / JUN 2021
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