Maersk Colleges

[MEJG]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Come to Warsash... you'll have a wonderful time!

:-D

[beer-engineer]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Although the college is a joke, lecturers are useless and it is an uphill struggle. Id say not finishing an HND is purely the students doing. I managed to do it and get A's in both graded units.

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Maersk Colleges

EVERYTHING! All machinery in the workshop is knackered, the lecturers were borderline useless (some were alright), they couldn't organise anything particularly well, their halls staff and general accomodation was crap. There was quite a bit wrong with it.

[Lewis]

Re: Maersk Colleges

What were they complaining about. Poor facilities, teaching or something else?

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Pretty much everything. Cadets from both departments were calling in and complaining constantly about a whole host of things.

[Lewis]

Re: Maersk Colleges

What was wrong with glasgow? What were they wanting to see improved? Only ask because I start there next year?

[Martyboy]

Re: Maersk Colleges

It would be in my defence......... It was 4:36 am

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Would that be Glasgow you're talking about?

[Martyboy]

Re: Maersk Colleges

But to answer the original question, Maersk haven't used Glasgow for this year or last years cadets They had a meeting with the college before sept term started to see if things has improved.................... turns out.... it hadn't

Re: Maersk Colleges

VERY BAD! Some of the senior lecturers are good, some not so much. They left everything to the last minute and they really tupped up a number of times on different things. It was a nightmare. Better off going elsewhere. Warsash is supposed to be very good from what I hear....

Guinessman's post is important (re:- GCNS) , - it is highly relevant in fact.
If you are a keen follower of the postings on this site, you may have noticed that it has been claimed that Warsash is, or at least was, the finest nautical establishment on this planet.
Those comments came from an "ancient mariner", I believe, -(Deck not Engine), so in the case of you engine guys, the ancient mariners remarks in relation to marine educational establishment may not be applicable to you.
In those days, they (Warsash) did not even do Engine Cadets so far as I can recall. (Just Cadets, 2nd Mates, Mates & Masters)
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher arrived on the scene and demolished the British Merchant Navy in devastating style. A "knock on" effect was the UK Nautical Establishments suffered immensely as well, - they lost their senior staff, the best of lecturers etc. etc. Not only that, they lost their "feed" of such people, and that feed, once lost to a nation, is likely never to be re-established. However, if it is, it will take a great deal of time, even the passage of generations perhaps.
In those days South Shields is where most of the best engineers went to do their certificates (2nd Engr and Chief Engr) and I assume that is the institution now known as STC. Therefore, traditionally they are good - engine wise, - so maybe they still are today, or at least the best available.

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Maersk Colleges

I would still do your best to stay away from Glasgow. Having moved about 4 times (twice to different countries) in the last 6 months I know how hard it is. 80% of the last September intake in GCNS (the ones that started in 2007) was unable to complete their HND. Now if it was a small amount, most folks would blame the students, but at 80% Id say there is something seriously wrong. You can read the OFSTED reports and they always come out smelling like roses, which is hardly surprising since they dont allow the OFSTED inspectors near anyone above Phase 1.

[tempest]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Yeah, South Tyneside was my original choice, but due to my grades, SSTG are instisting on the FD, whic apparently only runs in a September intake for South Tyneside.

I understand a lot of the stuff is last minute, and the accomodation costs don't bother, me, it's the trying to essentially move house twice within 2 weeks, over the Christmas new Year period, plus the closest medical I could get was also 100 miles away, so a complete day trip.

In the case of joining a ship, I like to think I'd always be on alert for the phone call, and be half packed at all times, whereas this is a nightmare, a bit more notice and i would have probably chosen warsach, that said would probably have been wiser to wait till September.

[Brimbo]

Re: Maersk Colleges

South Tyneside college is very good for engineering and electrical, not too sure for navigational though. I recommend there

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Yeah, I served with cadets in different colleges and when you compare things, well it shows the lack of co-ordination within GCNS. Besides, I could put up with the pretentiousness of Warsash as Glasgow will really irritate and frustrate you. Believe me, towards the end I was starting to lose my rag with them as it was a battle to get anything done. Just getting them to mail me a certificate took three trips to their certificate department and four arguments on the telephone.

Besides, a lot of what goes on within this industry is all last minute. I didnt find out I was joining a ship until the very last minute (that morning). If your with SSTG, then they pay for the accommodation so moving in somewhere is a breeze for you guys.

Trust me, if they offer you somewhere else other than Glasgow for Engineering, then take it as that place will drive you mad.

[tempest]

Re: Maersk Colleges

Yeah, I heard Warsach is very good, though the thing about the pretension on here, having to wear epaulettes in college, plus the very short amount of notice given, put me off.

SSTG phoned me on Tuesday morning, saying there'd been 2 openings, though I stil need to travel for an interview, plus do my medical, so it seemed far easier to pick Glasgow due to the closeness of it,that I could get there quickly for the start date, and were I to need anything it wouldn't be too difficult to get home to pick my stuff up.

I'm currently in a flat that I rent, but for strting the course, I'll essentially need to move back with my parents to move to a city.

Though that said, if you went there and you turned out ok, I assume you just have to push yourself more, and do you have any experience of the other colleges to compare it to?