Thoughts about GMIT

loverboy · 26-02-2011 12:57am #1

hey guys want to go to GMIT next year just wondering how ye rate it as a college?? thanks!

loverboy · 26-02-2011 8:27pm

Also which student village is best in your opinion for a first year??

PerrinV2 · 27-02-2011 11:47pm

loverboy wrote: »

hey guys want to go to GMIT next year just wondering how ye rate it as a college?? thanks!

Depends on what the question is really,are you wondering about a specific course or how the lecturers are or what its like to live in galway?

loverboy · 28-02-2011 7:59pm

PerrinV2 wrote: »

Depends on what the question is really,are you wondering about a specific course or how the lecturers are or what its like to live in galway?

Oh about the lecturers and galway life?

jitter · 09-03-2011 12:44am

I love Galway life! I'm a from a small village though where there's only 2 pubs to go to so I might be easily pleased.
I live in Glasan, management try rip ya off on everything but I think its the best craic out of all the other student accomodations. I lived in Gleann na Ri last year and it was nice too, but the walk can get annoying.

29-03-2011 5:49pm

GMIT campus = Non existant.
Galway night life = Messy!

Annnnnnd, Glasan is good for first years ya, but its a complete and utter kip and you will never get your full deposit back.

Dellboy2007 · 29-03-2011 8:24pm

Galway's a great city. Lovely people and great buzz around the place. If you let us know what course you're hoping on doing maybe someone can give you an insight into it as the lecturers are different for every course.

hdowney · 29-03-2011 8:42pm

Deleted User wrote: »

GMIT campus = Non existant.
Galway night life = Messy!
Annnnnnd, Glasan is good for first years ya, but its a complete and utter kip and you will never get your full deposit back.

ok so i'd be interested in a bit of detail on the sh!t campus. more than just a generic it is sh!t. like what is sh!t about it?

Dellboy2007 · 29-03-2011 8:52pm

hdowney wrote: »

ok so i'd be interested in a bit of detail on the sh!t campus. more than just a generic it is sh!t. like what is sh!t about it?

There is no campus. There is a building where lectures are on and that's it. Want to see a 'campus' have a look down in UL.

hdowney · 29-03-2011 10:16pm

so there is nowhere with like other campusy type facilities etc. like where do they have the library, student services, do they got a canteen etc

ole112 · 20-04-2011 2:03am

GMIT is a great place to go to college, finishing up my 2nd year now and they have been the best ones of my life. There is a great atmosphere to the college. Don't understand the reference to the campus been '****'. There is a common room, canteen, chill out zone, gym etc.
Galway it'self, plain and simple is the best place to go to college....
Student accom, go for glean na ri, altough I live in Glasan, they just rip ya off..

powpow · 20-04-2011 7:15pm

OP, it depends, what are you thinking of studying?

Diabhal Beag · 21-04-2011 3:23pm

What's the gym like? Is it part of a hotel?

powpow · 21-04-2011 6:34pm

No there is a standalone gym on campus, pretty basic facilities though. There is a Kingfisher leisure centre 3 minutes walking distance from the main campus and they usually offer good student deals.

ted2767 · 21-04-2011 7:11pm

I'll give you one bit of advice unless it's hotel management or maybe some of the engineering courses don't go to gmit!
Seriously it's reputation is poor and getting worse with students who cheat final year submissions being allowed graduate on appeal I'd say employers are looking at a lot of gmit graduates c.v.'s and dumping them!
I'm not an nuig graduate but I'd say student life there is far better nicer campus, better facilities, good student bar etc.
If you can go elsewhere.

mikemac · 21-04-2011 7:15pm

Glasan will be fine for a 1st year
The management company are sharks, they'll invent reasons to keep part of your deposit

I also lived in Cuirt Na Rasai. Loved it, great accommodation but a bit of a trek to GMIT. But then a nice walk too, 15 minutes at a swift pace through Castlepark

All the same, do you want to walk home on your own at night? Consider that

What used to be the Days Hotel has a small gym but good swimming pool. For a hotel, it's not realy that expensive. Might be worth it if you'll use it

Galway · 22-04-2011 9:15pm

ted2767 wrote: »

I'll give you one bit of advice unless it's hotel management or maybe some of the engineering courses don't go to gmit!
Seriously it's reputation is poor and getting worse with students who cheat final year submissions being allowed graduate on appeal I'd say employers are looking at a lot of gmit graduates c.v.'s and dumping them!
I'm not an nuig graduate but I'd say student life there is far better nicer campus, better facilities, good student bar etc.
If you can go elsewhere.

What an ill informed post and poster. FYI the rumpus over cheating was in Civil Eng. There is now a new President so there is bound to be a bit of a shake up. You know nothing about NUIG either- far from a bed of roses, some very poor teaching indeed and the issue re standards ie endemic there also. Plently of disgruntled NUIG students. 'Good student bar'... that says it all.. where u spend most of your time.... no doubt. Plenty of conjecture and sumising in ur post such as "I'd say..."

ARGINITE · 22-04-2011 10:34pm

Please keep this thread on topic it's not here for attacking either GMIT or NUIG!
First and final warning.

billinkinvara · 23-04-2011 9:22am

I am a mature student at GMIT. I am completing my second Bachelor's degree.

There are three kinds of people at any place. Those that love it, those that hate it and those that are indifferent. By far, the vast majority of People at GMIT are excellent committed students, staff and professionals.

The standards compliances are vigorously audited. Unfortunately some people appear to get away with creative manipulation of context and rules for their own benefit.

The younger student body has a good set of hard core partiers that last 1 or 2 years then they start to get interested in learning something. But there are a lot of hard core students, that are responsible and know how to have fun. There's also a lot of students that commute daily and work as well and strategically manage their party, work and study resources.

There are a good group of business students that are vociferously interested in building their own global businesses. These folks are motivated and bouncing ideas off each other to come up with ways to create jobs. It's great craic.

The people that are slandering GMIT are ignorant of the facts. Unfortunately these people don't understand what ignorance is.

The core curriculum is the same across all of the campuses. The difference is the staff and facilities. The Staff in all positions and roles at GMIT are exceptional. Unfortunately there are a few folks that exceptionally bad but there are other motives involved.The majority of people at GMIT are absolutely wonderful. There is no snobbery or class system. They even treat Dubliners with respect. It's a great place to be.

The wireless network coverage can still be improved in 20% of the campus. The gym is adequate for machines and free weights and sports.

The restaurant is totally top shelf. There is a decent student lounge. The library and IT room are adequate.

Galway is a great place to be. The pace of life and energy of Galway is unbeatable. If you want stress and violence and crime go to a different city in Ireland because Galway is a wonderful peaceful place more often than not.

It's easy to get around by foot, bike and bus.

Best of luck!

-Bill

Galway · 23-04-2011 9:12pm

billinkinvara wrote: »

I am a mature student at GMIT. I am completing my second Bachelor's degree.

There are three kinds of people at any place. Those that love it, those that hate it and those that are indifferent. By far, the vast majority of People at GMIT are excellent committed students, staff and professionals.

The standards compliances are vigorously audited. Unfortunately some people appear to get away with creative manipulation of context and rules for their own benefit.

The younger student body has a good set of hard core partiers that last 1 or 2 years then they start to get interested in learning something. But there are a lot of hard core students, that are responsible and know how to have fun. There's also a lot of students that commute daily and work as well and strategically manage their party, work and study resources.

There are a good group of business students that are vociferously interested in building their own global businesses. These folks are motivated and bouncing ideas off each other to come up with ways to create jobs. It's great craic.

The people that are slandering GMIT are ignorant of the facts. Unfortunately these people don't understand what ignorance is.

The core curriculum is the same across all of the campuses. The difference is the staff and facilities. The Staff in all positions and roles at GMIT are exceptional. Unfortunately there are a few folks that exceptionally bad but there are other motives involved.The majority of people at GMIT are absolutely wonderful. There is no snobbery or class system. They even treat Dubliners with respect. It's a great place to be.

The wireless network coverage can still be improved in 20% of the campus. The gym is adequate for machines and free weights and sports.

The restaurant is totally top shelf. There is a decent student lounge. The library and IT room are adequate.

Galway is a great place to be. The pace of life and energy of Galway is unbeatable. If you want stress and violence and crime go to a different city in Ireland because Galway is a wonderful peaceful place more often than not.

It's easy to get around by foot, bike and bus.

Best of luck!

-Bill

Here here!!!

ted2767 · 26-04-2011 4:07pm

Galway wrote: »

What an ill informed post and poster. FYI the rumpus over cheating was in Civil Eng. There is now a new President so there is bound to be a bit of a shake up. You know nothing about NUIG either- far from a bed of roses, some very poor teaching indeed and the issue re standards ie endemic there also. Plently of disgruntled NUIG students. 'Good student bar'... that says it all.. where u spend most of your time.... no doubt. Plenty of conjecture and sumising in ur post such as "I'd say..."

Just as you know I'm currently a student in GMIT.
My opinions are totally valid, this is my second time in third level education in Ireland and in my opinion the standards in GMIT are at best average.
My statements about employers are borne out by experiences of myself and my classmates who in our final year are struggling to find employment even with excellent grades.
If you decide to disagree with me be my guest but get your facts right first.
Fact there is an issue in GMIT with cheating in assessments and students who on being found out were allowed graduate after appeal.
Fact there is an investigation being launched into this and the isssue has had fairly widespread national media coverage.
Whilst this may have happened in the engineering dept the entire college is affected by this.
So in my opinion I'd say it's fairly safe to say that the reputation of GMIT has suffered because of this, and I'm not aware of NUIG being similarily aaffected althouh I'm open to correction on that.
Are there some excellent staff in GMIT of course there are but in the wider public reputation is massively important and wheter right or wrong the whole college has been affected.
So I think I'll stand by what I said my advice to anybody thinking of attending GMIT is if they have the option of going elsewhere then take that with both hands.

Monife · 28-04-2011 8:42pm

Was a student in GMIT and stayed in Glasan student accomodation.

They are nice, standard houses, decent sized rooms and right accross the road from the college.

Although, the nearest shop is a supervalu (if my memory serves me well) about a 10/15 minute walk up the road, which isnt great on the pocket. Tesco and Dunnes is a good bit away, so you would either need to have a car or be getting the bus with all your shopping or taxi. It's about 8/10euro taxi into Galway city centre for the nightlife.

But all the other posters are bang on, the management are SHARKS. They try to retain most if not ALL of your deposit. Only got about 30euro each year back out of my deposit.

Learn from our mistakes. If you choose Glasan, document everything when you arrive, take pictures of everything especially any marks or wear and tear. Make an inventory and get them to sign that and the photos (print them out) and you sign and date them too.

Diabhal Beag · 29-04-2011 4:41am

Will probably have to drive to GMIT next year. What's the parking situation like?

mink_man · 30-04-2011 12:05am

early in the morning might be hard to get parking but around 1 or 2 o clock is fine, you can always down near lurgan park, guaranteed space and lots of cars park there.

powpow · 30-04-2011 1:07am

mink_man wrote: »

early in the morning might be hard to get parking but around 1 or 2 o clock is fine, you can always down near lurgan park, guaranteed space and lots of cars park there.

Actually I find its the exact opposite!

No problem getting parking before 9:15, after that forget about it...

the simpsons · 03-05-2011 1:27am

they have a really bad gym

mink_man · 03-05-2011 4:52pm

the simpsons wrote: »

they have a really bad gym

has what ya need, they also hooked up with the carlton last year which was good.

Rooneysdaman · 06-05-2011 7:29pm

I am just finishing up 1st Year as a mature student and have to agree with this poster. I am very concerned about the cheating scandal and I'm not buying the line that it won't have any effect whatsoever on prospective employers. I do worry that it will somehow 'taint' my degree and am just hoping the story will have long gone away by the time I graduate.

That said, I've really enjoyed my time there so far. I've worked hard, been challenged and really learned a lot. I've also done my fair share of partying with the young ones, only real difference between me and them is that I can afford the taxi home at the end of the night! LOL The lecturers are by and large, sound and enthusiastic. There are a couple of bad apples but you'll get that anywhere. My only complaints would centre on the library - the opening hours suck and the technology is not great, you actually have to be present on campus to access a lot of data that you should be able to get into from your home computer - previous exam papers for example.

ted2767 wrote: »

Just as you know I'm currently a student in GMIT.
My opinions are totally valid, this is my second time in third level education in Ireland and in my opinion the standards in GMIT are at best average.
My statements about employers are borne out by experiences of myself and my classmates who in our final year are struggling to find employment even with excellent grades.
If you decide to disagree with me be my guest but get your facts right first.
Fact there is an issue in GMIT with cheating in assessments and students who on being found out were allowed graduate after appeal.
Fact there is an investigation being launched into this and the isssue has had fairly widespread national media coverage.
Whilst this may have happened in the engineering dept the entire college is affected by this.
So in my opinion I'd say it's fairly safe to say that the reputation of GMIT has suffered because of this, and I'm not aware of NUIG being similarily aaffected althouh I'm open to correction on that.
Are there some excellent staff in GMIT of course there are but in the wider public reputation is massively important and wheter right or wrong the whole college has been affected.
So I think I'll stand by what I said my advice to anybody thinking of attending GMIT is if they have the option of going elsewhere then take that with both hands.

powpow · 06-05-2011 8:17pm

Rooneysdaman wrote: »

My only complaints would centre on the library - the opening hours suck and the technology is not great, you actually have to be present on campus to access a lot of data that you should be able to get into from your home computer - previous exam papers for example.

Monday - Wednesday 09.00 - 22.00
Thursday - Friday 09.00 - 21.00
Saturday 10.00 - 17.00

In fairness the opening hours are reasonable?

As for not being able to access exam papers from home, you mean this?

I'm not sure what you mean by the technology, there are a few old pc's left in the library, but most have been replaced this year and the rest will be replaced by next semester apparently, but even so, why not just walk downstairs to the IT centre?

Or do you mean the facilities for checking out books etc.?

hdowney · 06-05-2011 8:49pm

Rooneysdaman wrote: »

I am just finishing up 1st Year as a mature student and have to agree with this poster. I am very concerned about the cheating scandal and I'm not buying the line that it won't have any effect whatsoever on prospective employers. I do worry that it will somehow 'taint' my degree and am just hoping the story will have long gone away by the time I graduate.

That said, I've really enjoyed my time there so far. I've worked hard, been challenged and really learned a lot. I've also done my fair share of partying with the young ones, only real difference between me and them is that I can afford the taxi home at the end of the night! LOL The lecturers are by and large, sound and enthusiastic. There are a couple of bad apples but you'll get that anywhere. My only complaints would centre on the library - the opening hours suck and the technology is not great, you actually have to be present on campus to access a lot of data that you should be able to get into from your home computer - previous exam papers for example.

what you studyin?

i am coming over to gmit on monday for some sort of yoke. i am not sure exactly what it is. they didn't specifically say it was an interview (like a have an interview for dkit on thursday - they specify interview in their letter). the gmit thingy mentions my application is being considered for the quota of places, (ok they do mention interview ish) and say i am required to attend for interview and advisory session. they give two basic times - 9:30am and 1:30pm for attendance. i am going to assume this means that i will be with other mature people at the start - for the 'advisory' thingy whatever that is, and then we will all be called off individually for our interviews?

anyone go through this last year and can give me a bit more of a heads up on it?

elcy86 · 16-05-2011 9:42am

I'm just finished my 3rd year doing Heritage Studies in the main campus and this is the first time I've heard anything about a cheating scandal

ted2767 · 16-05-2011 5:21pm

Do you mind me asking what planet you've been living on these last few months?
I'm just about to finish a course in GMIT and to be honest all I feel like doing with my degree is binning it I'm straight off to do a masters at a university their programmes are far better recognised.

what_traffic · 17-05-2011 4:11pm

It has very poor bike parking facilities. (In comparison to NUIG and any decent 3rd level college) Its no wonder car parking is at a premium.

perfectisthe · 24-05-2011 9:40am

ted2767 wrote: »

Just as you know I'm currently a student in GMIT.
My opinions are totally valid, this is my second time in third level education in Ireland and in my opinion the standards in GMIT are at best average.
My statements about employers are borne out by experiences of myself and my classmates who in our final year are struggling to find employment even with excellent grades.
If you decide to disagree with me be my guest but get your facts right first.
Fact there is an issue in GMIT with cheating in assessments and students who on being found out were allowed graduate after appeal.
Fact there is an investigation being launched into this and the isssue has had fairly widespread national media coverage.
Whilst this may have happened in the engineering dept the entire college is affected by this.
So in my opinion I'd say it's fairly safe to say that the reputation of GMIT has suffered because of this, and I'm not aware of NUIG being similarily aaffected althouh I'm open to correction on that.
Are there some excellent staff in GMIT of course there are but in the wider public reputation is massively important and wheter right or wrong the whole college has been affected.
So I think I'll stand by what I said my advice to anybody thinking of attending GMIT is if they have the option of going elsewhere then take that with both hands.

I would put standards in GMIT at about average as well I think. In regards to the reputation of the whole college being smeared due to the engineering dept, well, I simply don't believe that to be true. Yes there was negative media coverage, but it was all centred aroung the engineering dept. I think people are capable of understanding that the engineering dept is an isolated incident. During my undergrad there were a large amount of people caught, and punished, for plagiarism. There was no grade inflation, or passing those who failed. People understand this. Give them a little credit.

GMIT is far from perfect, but, as someone who has been to both an NUI (at postgraduate level) and an IT, I can without hesitation say that between the two I would recommend GMIT. I have never found my GMIT qualification to be viewed in any negative fashion, by employers or other bodies of education. I recently got accepted to TCD for further postgraduate work and it was my GMIT degree they were most interested in and which ultimately won me the place.

My statements about employers are borne out by experiences of myself and my classmates who in our final year are struggling to find employment even with excellent grades.

Yeah no ****. Welcome to Ireland in 2011.

ted2767 · 24-05-2011 6:04pm

I am well aware of the current economic situation when I'm told "if you were attending a university instead of gmit you'd stand a much better chance of getting this job" I think I'll believe that being a graduate of that college may be a hinderance rather that a bonus.

perfectisthe · 24-05-2011 10:45pm

If someone actually said that to you I can understand why you take that position. I'm curious to know what context that remark was made in, could you elaborate a little more? Regardless, I feel that my point stands, and as someone who is now looking in from the outside, I feel I have some perspective, and, I can only reiterate that in my dealings with universities and employers, my GMIT degree has been nothing but beneficial to me - there has been absolutely no stigma attached to it.

I understand your position, you've had a negative experience, and it seems to have given you an extremely negative attitude towards your degree yourself. Perhaps worrying about how other people view your degree is the wrong attitude, how do YOU view your degree? Did you get a sufficient education? Do you feel qualified to do the work you've been trained to do? If you can answer yes to these questions then it doesn't matter a jot whether your degree is from GMIT, you'll do just fine and a job will come.

ted2767 · 25-05-2011 12:22am

It was said to me at an interview by one of the interviewers in a quite moment.
As for my degree its ok ar best its only saving grace is that it is externally validated by external bodies as well but if you ask me will it feature prominently on my c.v. in a few years then the answer has to be no.
I cannot understand how people are allowed to carry modules from one year onto the next, I found senior staff in the school of business extremly unhelpful and a significant number of lecturers of very poor quality.
As someone who returned as a mature student having previously attented a university I have found the whole gmit experience to be lacking.
Thats my opinion and it would take something significant to change it.

perfectisthe · 25-05-2011 11:23am

ted2767 wrote: »

It was said to me at an interview by one of the interviewers in a quite moment.

That's incredibly unprofessional.

I'm not trying to change your mind about the GMIT experience, I was a mature student as well (I'm 30), and, like I said, I would rate my experience overall as average. But, I would rate my University experience as below-average, the reality is that standards in all higher education bodies have slipped over the past four years. I'm responding to the idea that GMIT degrees have been sullied by the engineering mess, you've had a bad experience, but, overall they have not. Comments such as

all I feel like doing with my degree is binning it

devalue your degree more than anything else, be proud of your qualification, you know that you earned it.

Anyway, that's all I have to say on the matter as I'm repeating myself, good luck with your masters next year.

Galway · 27-05-2011 1:06am

ted2767 wrote: »

Do you mind me asking what planet you've been living on these last few months?
I'm just about to finish a course in GMIT and to be honest all I feel like doing with my degree is binning it I'm straight off to do a masters at a university their programmes are far better recognised.

Well I am sure you will be delighted to know that GMIT and NUIG have formed a strategic alliance which will see the sharing of facillities, programmes, teaching, research between both institutions. I have recently been chatting to a NUIG lecturer I know and they have exactly the same issues as GMIT re attendance, student performance and marks being 'upped' to avoid large scale failure in some subjects/programmes. It is just that no one at NUIG went public. Believe you me the NUIG degree of today does not contain the depth and breath of a similar degree 30 years ago.

ted2767 · 27-05-2011 10:35am

I'm not going to get into a slagging match with anyone on here about gmit you all have perfectly valid opinions about the place.
In my experience though I wouldn't reccomend the place to anyone unless they were doing hotel and catering.
I know nuig is no bed of roses and probably shares many of the same issues but public perception is massively important and the public reputation of nuig is infinetly better than gmit.
So were anyone to ask me I'd advise them to go to nuig along time before I'd say the same thing about gmit.
There are several great lecturers in gmit I've been lucky enough to have been thought by some of them I have however met many more who are incompetent, lazy and frankly not up to it.
Like I said I'm not going to get into a slagging match about this issue I've better things to do but in my opinion gmit is a dump.

mink_man · 27-05-2011 6:49pm

Engineering in NUIG is all theory, no practical, the energy systems class even came over to GMIT one day to see why we have an energy lab which inclused solar panels, heat pumps etc and they don't.

Galway · 05-06-2011 12:44am

ted2767 wrote: »

I'm not going to get into a slagging match with anyone on here about gmit you all have perfectly valid opinions about the place.
In my experience though I wouldn't reccomend the place to anyone unless they were doing hotel and catering.
I know nuig is no bed of roses and probably shares many of the same issues but public perception is massively important and the public reputation of nuig is infinetly better than gmit.
So were anyone to ask me I'd advise them to go to nuig along time before I'd say the same thing about gmit.
There are several great lecturers in gmit I've been lucky enough to have been thought by some of them I have however met many more who are incompetent, lazy and frankly not up to it.
Like I said I'm not going to get into a slagging match about this issue I've better things to do but in my opinion gmit is a dump.

Chip on shoulder syndrome, no doubt. And we are not comparing like with like either. The IoTs actually prepare people ready to go into the workplace, esp in Engineering, the same CANNOT be said of NUIG. They set up taught Masters to fill in the gaps they missed in the primary degree.

ted2767 · 06-06-2011 9:42pm

Galway wrote: »

Chip on shoulder syndrome, no doubt. And we are not comparing like with like either. The IoTs actually prepare people ready to go into the workplace, esp in Engineering, the same CANNOT be said of NUIG. They set up taught Masters to fill in the gaps they missed in the primary degree.

I'm not entering into a slagging match and the best you can come up with is that I've a chip on my shoulder?
Honestly if that is the best you can do then why not just stay quite on the subject?
By narrowing this argument to nuig v gmit you are displaying a very narrow focus lets face facts here gmit is not a first class educational institute.

Machvingtsun · 09-06-2011 2:38pm

ted2767 wrote: »

I'm not going to get into a slagging match with anyone on here about gmit you all have perfectly valid opinions about the place.
In my experience though I wouldn't reccomend the place to anyone unless they were doing hotel and catering.
I know nuig is no bed of roses and probably shares many of the same issues but public perception is massively important and the public reputation of nuig is infinetly better than gmit.
So were anyone to ask me I'd advise them to go to nuig along time before I'd say the same thing about gmit.
There are several great lecturers in gmit I've been lucky enough to have been thought by some of them I have however met many more who are incompetent, lazy and frankly not up to it.
Like I said I'm not going to get into a slagging match about this issue I've better things to do but in my opinion gmit is a dump.

Surely your only qualified to comment about the lecturers and standards in the department you were studying in. Problems with standards are the same in every third level institution across the country. At least in GMIT the problems have been brought to light and something has been done about them.

The standards in the GMIT science department are excellent with dedicated lecturers. This is my personnel experience of the last four years not conjecture or "talk".

I cant comment on any other department but for obvious reasons of oversupply of graduates the building, architecture, business courses should be avoided.

Funk It · 13-06-2011 12:49am

I had 3 great years studying in GMIT, which really helped me lay the foundations which have helped me progress to completing a Masters in a different university. I have a lot to thank GMIT for and can't recommend the place enough. being heavily involved in sport was the making of it for me, but there are plenty societies up and running which make it easy for people to meet folk.

The lecturers were tough but fair, and always had time to facilitate any questions which i found out that university lectures aren't so keen on, whom i found out prefer to have an ethos of "figure it out yourself". That's just my view from being on both sides of the fence. In GMIT i found that they actually care about you and want you to have all the success that you can.

All the best with your studies, and remember that at the end of it all, you cant blame the college if you don't put in the work, its a 2 way street.

Wingawongawoo · 15-06-2011 12:05am

Under the HETAC system, a degree is a degree no matter where you get it from. The old system of "RTCs" providing "diplomas" and unis providing "degrees" is gone, And so no distinction in the actual piece of paper you get at the end can legitimately be made by an interviewer.

The "scandal" at GMIT has IMO been blown out if all proportion, and given a slow news week at a different time could have been written about any third level in Ireland. Just so happened that GMIT was in the wrong place at the wrong time media-wise, but believe me the story could ring true in pretty much any college.

The fact is that the issue has been dealt with and if anything the standards and auditing is all the better for it at GMIT.

ted2767 · 17-06-2011 9:22am

Thats a very simplistic do you honestly think a science degree from an I.T. carry the same standing as that from a university like Trinity where there is world class research being carried out?
If so you have an awful lot to learn.

Wingawongawoo · 17-06-2011 10:14am

If you think the likes of Trinity hasn't had the same "scandals" (albeit not in the public eye) you've got a lot to learn.

Trinity has autonomy in granting it's own degrees, whereas most IoTs fall under the HETAC system. If you ask me it's more than likely that a "self-audited" system like the one at Trinity COULD be perceived as being more open to abuse than a system under proper national scrutiny.

I take your point that I may have over-simplified the "a degree is a degree" point. For sure the place you get your degree DOES come into it, but technically I am correct in say that it SHOULDN'T. Different IoTs have historically been "good" in certain areas, and GMIT has a very good reputation in the area of construction and civil engineering, certainly up to the point of the "scandal". That event should have the effect of closer auditing in the future, and eventually the performance of the graduates in th eworkplace will earn the respect of the industry if it has been tainited recently. IMO of course!

ted2767 · 19-06-2011 11:31pm

Wingawongawoo wrote: »

If you think the likes of Trinity hasn't had the same "scandals" (albeit not in the public eye) you've got a lot to learn.

Trinity has autonomy in granting it's own degrees, whereas most IoTs fall under the HETAC system. If you ask me it's more than likely that a "self-audited" system like the one at Trinity COULD be perceived as being more open to abuse than a system under proper national scrutiny.

I take your point that I may have over-simplified the "a degree is a degree" point. For sure the place you get your degree DOES come into it, but technically I am correct in say that it SHOULDN'T. Different IoTs have historically been "good" in certain areas, and GMIT has a very good reputation in the area of construction and civil engineering, certainly up to the point of the "scandal". That event should have the effect of closer auditing in the future, and eventually the performance of the graduates in th eworkplace will earn the respect of the industry if it has been tainited recently. IMO of course!

Proper national scrutiny??? I'll give you a few examples FAS, Taxi industry, HSE all under national scrutiny so I wouldn't place too much importance on that were I you.
The system in GMIT was shambolic and even lecturers are appaled at what happened and they will admit this to you if spolen to privately.
Auditing alone will not solve nothing its mostly to do with the prevailing culture in the organisation and how people behave or are allowed to behave is very difficult to change by merely auditing.

Wingawongawoo · 20-06-2011 6:57pm

Agreed. But at least with the auditing there's a chance that bad practices can be identified and addressed (exactly as happened in GMIT). If you're suggesting that auditing is a waste of time or not working properly, then I genuinely feel that you're wrong. Without auditing and public scrutiny, who knows what could be going on? I'd rather have scrutiny to highlight issues than not, even if in some cases the auditing may be coming too late.

daniels.ducks · 24-08-2011 12:28pm

Anyone here go to Letterfrack? I'm finding it very hard to get information on it! The course is Design and Technology Education.