Gem-A Education

Delivery and changes to your programme or this document

Gem-A is continuously developing, refining and improving its services and programmes for the benefit of its students.  This may be to reflect student feedback or to accommodate changes or developments in teaching practices, facilities, or to keep areas of study up to date.  This may lead to changes in the content or delivery of Gem-A’s programmes from those set out in the prospectus or website. If Gem-A decides to make a significant change to your programme of study, we will consult you in advance of the change, except where the change is required for regulatory or legal reasons, or on account of events beyond Gem-A’s control, in which case Gem-A will notify you of this as soon as possible and try to minimise any adverse impact on you.

Communication: Good communication is an essential part of our working partnership and it is important that you make sure you are familiar with the ways we will communicate with you.

We may need to contact you, your guardian/next of kin, your employer regarding issues such as attendance, conduct, progress etc. If Gem-A has to contact you, it will do so by, email or telephone to the most recent contact details that you have provided.

When communicating with you we will be courteous, respectful and responsive to your needs. When visiting Gem-A, we will, be on time to meet you or let you know if the meeting needs to be rearranged and offer a quiet place to discuss any confidential matters. When answering your emails, we will respond within 5 working days.  

If you wish to contact Gem-A HQ or are required to contact Gem-A HQ on any matter, we expect you to be courteous and respectful and to always include your Student Number in any communication with us. For contact with your tutor please see the Tutors section.

We expect you to promptly inform Gem-A of any changes in your residential address or email address by contacting education@gem-a.com and ensure that any changes to your email address are amended on your online site profile. You should check that all emails from Gem-A are not directed to your junk/spam folder. Gem-A is not responsible if you fail to read notices sent to you on contact details provided by yourselves.

Payment of Fees and other charges

Gem-A will provide up-to-date fees on our website for all the courses taught by us. An instalment scheme is available for students should they wish to use it. We will contact students immediately if any fees are overdue or outstanding and you may be temporarily suspended from the course until fees due are paid. Where someone else is paying your fees you are responsible if they do not pay and failure to pay in time or explain issues will result in being denied entry to the exams and in your removal from the course.

You are expected to inform us immediately if you are unable to pay your fees in time.   

Engagement and attendance

As an adult education provider, Gem-A will provide you with education services (including teaching, learning and assessments) which Gem-A considers appropriate for your programme. Gem-A will provide students with access to our online learning site throughout their course until their exam date.

Your tutor should be informed if you cannot fully participate with your studies, activities or assessments. This helps them to help you. Such reporting is also to your benefit if your tutors are asked to write references for you or if your engagement is considered a cause for concern and potential withdrawal. Students must contact their tutor if they require an extension on their assessment. Extensions will only be granted in mitigating circumstances. Please see the extensions policy.

ATC Students

Gem-A requires you to be committed to your studies and participate fully in your course and to demonstrate this through your level of engagement. This includes making good use of the resources and opportunities available to you. You should utilise resources to aid your revision such as past papers, examiners reports and mock exams provided by your tutor. You should adhere to any class rules outlined by your tutor, notify lecturers and/or admin immediately when there is difficulty accessing an activity or resource and adhere to the site policy using appropriate online etiquette and conduct.

ODL Students

For your own benefit and out of respect for your tutor and other students, you are expected to participate fully in any online forum discussions where required. You are expected to engage in a minimum of 80% of the activities that are scheduled and study for the recommended hours per week (this is outlined on your welcome email). This includes completing and submitting all assessments on time. Engagement will be assessed through the recording of your log-in activity and task completion logs.  If your record of engagement falls below the required level, you will be contacted to discuss how this issue can be addressed. Unauthorised and consistent inactivity on the course will lead to you being withdrawn from your course as low attendance is a sign of impending failure. It is at the tutor's discretion to mark any work that is handed in after the scheduled deadline detailed in your course outline. The marking deadline will then start from the date of late submission.  

Bullying and Harassment

Gem-A is committed to equality of opportunity, providing a fair, equitable and supportive learning and teaching environment, in which all members of the Gem-A community are treated with dignity and respect. Gem-A will not tolerate bullying, harassment or victimisation of any individual on any account. All allegations of bullying and harassment will be treated with the utmost seriousness and given careful and appropriate investigation.

Gem-A requires you to show respect to fellow students and staff whether in person or online at all times, and to comply with Gem-A’s policy on bullying and harassment and equality and diversity.

Tutors: Your tutors will provide full support throughout your studies at Gem-A.

Tutors responsibilities include:

Marking

Your tutor is responsible for providing feedback on your formal assessments (those that count towards your final grade) and feedback on any tasks, activities and homework that form part of your course.

They will mark assessments within 2 weeks after the final date of submission and all assessments will be completed in sequential order. The final deadline for marking All assessments including the project is 10 June for the June exams and 10 January for the January exams.

Mock papers or review questions will be marked within 2 weeks of the submission deadline.

ODL Tutors will mark any observation uploads activities within 5 days of posting.

Communication

Tutors will respond to your query within 48 hours. For ODL students, this will be through messages and forum posts.

Your tutor will notify you when they are away and as soon as there are any issues that could stop them from fulfilling these expectations. If a tutor is away for a length of time another tutor will be called upon to cover.

London ATC tutors will let you know of any changes in location or time of your classes or if your lessons are cancelled.

If you are studying at an ATC and need to contact a tutor out of normal class hours, we would recommend that you contact your tutor via the Moodle messaging service, giving them at least 48 hours to respond. Alternatively, you should bring any queries to your next class. If you wish to speak to your tutor before or after class, you are expected to arrange this with your tutor in advance. Your tutor is there to guide and help you, however, excessive communication outside of class hours will be discouraged. For general queries, you may also be able to contact your ATC or the Gem-A administration team.

Tutor Support  

Tutors will deal with any difficulties promptly and fairly.

Tutors will notify education staff should your attendance fall below the required levels, or you do not login onto your course. London ATC tutors will hand in their registers to the education department on a weekly basis for review. 

Students are expected to notify Gem-A if their tutor does not respond to their posts or mark their work within the recommended times as outlined above.

Support

In line with our reasonable adjustments and special considerations policy, we will strive to accommodate each prospective student with special requirements for their examination or their course, by making reasonable adjustments where appropriate. We will ensure special consideration is given to students who may have been disadvantaged due to temporary mitigating circumstances which arose at or near the time of the exam.

Gem-A expects you to tell us as soon as possible if you have a disability or any other special circumstances that we may need to take into account in order to give you the support that you may need to learn with us. You should inform us should you have a medical condition that our staff should be aware of by contacting your tutor or studentservices@gem-a.com.

It is important that you maintain good communication with your tutor and/or student services, in order to assist you with any study related difficulties and for the appropriate guidance to be sent to you.

R.I Liquid

Students will be using refractive index (RI) liquid in their practical gem testing sessions or lab classes when using a refractometer. RI liquid is commonly used in gemmology when using a refractometer. The Gem-A course extensively covers the appropriate use of refractometers and therefore, to successfully complete the Gemmology Diploma, you will be required to use the RI fluid. In a classroom environment the Gem-A tutors will provide you with appropriate information regarding the RI liquid and you will be taught the recommended handling procedures. Only a tiny drop of RI liquid is used in testing and the cap on the bottle is always replaced. It is your responsibility to ensure that you appropriately follow the instructions and information provided by your tutor on the use of the RI liquid. Gloves will be provided, if you require, when using the RI liquid at the London teaching centre.  

RI liquid contains diiodomethane and you may need to exercise precautions if you are pregnant, if you have certain medical conditions, and if you have sensitivity to, or are allergic to, this chemical. Again, your tutors will provide the required information on handling procedures. Please inform your tutors, so that they are aware of your needs. If you are unsure, contact your doctor for advice. If you are pregnant please consider that you may also be sensitive to the smell, which may make you nauseous.

If you are unsure about using RI liquid or if your doctor has advised against using it, please contact education@gem-a.com for further advice or for a copy of the Material Data Sheet.

Examinations and assessments

Gem-A will provide you with tuition and learning resources which, upon successful completion of the course, will lead to the award of qualifications with the appropriate national accreditation and international recognition.

We will publish exam dates on our website and prospectus as well as in course documents and online. Your assessment dates will be published on your online course page.

We expect you to read the examination policy in the student policies and procedures located in the Student Resources. It is your responsibility to read the course documentation and be aware of any course deadlines. All assessments will need to be completed by the deadlines set by your tutor. You should organise your time effectively so that you can submit any coursework, projects, homework on time and contact your tutor in advance of any issues you foresee or if you are unsure of any deadlines.

You are expected to take responsibility to book and complete the necessary lab classes (practical endorsements that form part of your ODL course)

Provided that you successfully fulfil the requirements of your programme, meet the required academic standard, pay your fees and otherwise meet your obligations as a student (as set out in the terms and conditions, policies and procedures and this agreement). Gem-A will grant you the appropriate award or qualification.

We will notify students of their results by letter which will contain your certificate should you pass and a statement of your results which will include the result, grade and mark for the individual unit.

You should contact Gem-A to update any changes of address to ensure you receive your results.

Complaints

Gem-A will handle complaints in a way which is sympathetic, fair, efficient and which encourages informal conciliation, facilitates early resolution, maintains individual privacy and confidentiality, and permits useful feedback.

Students are expected to be aware of and follow the complaints procedure outlined in the policies and procedures.

Feedback

Gem-A welcomes and values your views on the services that we provide, whether good or bad.

We will give you opportunities to comment on your course and exam and listen and respond to your feedback.

We expect you to participate in any feedback surveys that are provided and tell us as soon as possible when you have any concerns. You can contact studentservices@gem-a.com or speak to your tutor directly.

Gem-A's Intellectual Property (IP) which includes course materials and online campus content as well as Gem-A logos and branding are for Gem-A's use only. Teaching materials which include any materials created within Gem-A or on its behalf that are intended to be used by staff or accessed by students for the purpose of study are the property of Gem-A.  Students are asked not to breach the copyright of Gem-A or any third party by copying from the Gem-A online campus, course materials or teaching materials without authorisation.

In addition, Gem-A's IP cannot be copied, distributed, modified, adapted or uploaded onto third party applications unless prior permission from Gem-A is obtained.

Students will need to obtain permission from their Tutor or Student Support prior to audio recording classroom lectures.  Please note that any such recordings should be kept for the student's personal use and are not to be distributed on any media sharing websites.  Permission to record the lecture may be granted depending on the individual's circumstances.  Video recordings of lectures are not permitted. Any recording should be destroyed after the examinations are complete and recordings made by students are still considered Gem-A's IP.

Gem-A claims ownership of student-created intellectual property that is created with the aid of Gem-A’s facilities or commissioned by Gem-A, this includes the student project.

Addition 11/04/2019:

Personal Learner Record

If you are based in the UK, the information you supply will be used by the Chief Executive of Skills Funding, to issue you with a Unique Learner Number (ULN), and to create your Personal Learning Record. Further details of how your information is processed and shared can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lrs-privacy-notices

 

Because the ULN is required for the administration of services within the education and training sector (such as the issuing of certain qualifications), you cannot opt-out of being issued with a ULN on the Learner Register. 

 

You can opt-out of sharing your participation and achievement data through The Learning Records Service. Details of how you may opt-out of sharing your participation and achievement data within The Learning Records Service can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learning-records-service-the-plr-for-learners-and-parents or by telephoning the Learning Records Service’s Customer helpdesk on 0845 602 2589.