Engineering course not credited

totothejuggler

Hi, i just had my first week at Nuigalway in engineering innovation. In the middle of the week I got a call from the head of my course to say it had been taken off the cao next year and he was giving evey one in the course (there are 4 of us) the chance to change to another type of engineering because the course hasn't been credited by engineering Ireland ... what should i do stick with it or change course... also the only reason i went to galway was to do this course

Here's the course

http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/undergraduate-courses/engineering-innovation-electronic.html

thanks

Razleavy

No accreditation would put me off straight away and only 4 people doing it too! Pretty sure that without accreditation it's not recognised in other EU countries and places like Canada, etc. Even if it was accredited I wouldn't continue with only 4 people, what would happen if 3 had to repeat? Would they continue the course for only 1 person? I doubt it. I'm surprised that they would even do it with only 4.

dissed doc

IMO, there is zero point ultimately in spending several in university to achieve nothing. It will be interesting for sure, but without accreditation, you will be unable to use those years professionally here, and especially abroad. Chances are, due to the lack of accreditation, so will there be lack of funding particularly from now on, so by the 2nd or 3rd year you will end up trying to change anyway as it would kill any motivation.

InvisibleBadger

Hi, it sounds like a stressful situation. Definitely email your course director about your concerns.
There are a lot of shared modules between the electronics courses in NUIG so if you do decide to change, a lot of your modules will be the same, so check out the other courses to see if you are interested.
If you go to Compsoc there are a lot of guys from the other electronics courses there, and you could ask them questions about their courses. I'm in 4th EE if you have a any questions.
Best of luck.

totothejuggler

Well I know the course only had four in it last year as well and they continued on with it, but yeah its a good point 3 could fail and one would go on and i cant see them running it...

I already talked to the head of the department and he said he wasn't gonna force us out of the course, but he advised to move out of it.

So the general consensus is to move to another engineering course? I'm rippen because I only went to Galway to do this course

bnt

Lack of accreditation is not in itself a deal-breaker, since Engineers Ireland has to see the complete cycle work before it will give accreditation. Any new programme will thus always start without accreditation, and some students have to take a chance and help it gain accreditation. The UCD ME Structural Engineering with Architecture programme is an example: the first students went through all five years without accreditation, but they have it now.

The OP's one, however, is never going to get accredited - not if it's being stopped next year. That's not a good sign.

donegal11

With only 4 doing it why where the points for the course kept so high

totothejuggler

donegal11 wrote: »

With only 4 doing it why where the points for the course kept so high

very good point

miss no stars

I'm confused, what's so special about the course?? What exactly do you learn by doing that course as opposed to the normal electronic engineering course?

Just switch to electrical/electronic. 4 years of hard work will get you precisely NOWHERE if you stay in your course. Like, ok, it sounds like you had your heart fairly set on this course and this news is disappointing, but surely it'd be more disappointing to be back on here in 4/5 years going "nowhere even looks at me because my course wasn't accredited". And why would they? They'll have loads of applicants WITH accredited degrees!

The way I see it, engineering is engineering, there's not much difference between the content of courses in the different college once you're in an accredited course. You come out with the same skillset as grads from all the other accredited courses and the same basic knowledge. The fine print may change from course to course but the overall skillset doesn't. If it's the innovation end of things you're upset about... How can they teach innovation Either you have drive to go out and set up a company (and I'm sure, all things considered with what's happened to your course, if you expressed an interest in doing so the department would do their best to help you with it as best they can) or you don't. 3 hours of lectures (I'm guessing) a week isn't going to change who you are. If you got 560 points in the leaving I'm sure you're self motivated enough to succeed without having to be specifically in an engineering 'innovation' course as opposed to an engineering course.

Missing a few subjects or a slightly different focus is NOT going to make or break your career.... Not having an accredited degree will, though. Accreditation is a fairly big deal as you can probably tell from the responses on here and from the fact that the head of department (who is most likely an engineer who worked in the field) is telling you to keep clear of the course!

OP, I've been in a similar situation to you (not exactly the same though) so I know how difficult a decision it can be and how disappointing it is when something doesn't work out the way you imagined it would. I started out in an unaccredited course that was seeking accreditation (new enough course) while I was in first year. I left and went to a different course because I didn't actually like the course and was a bit concerned about the fact that there was a question mark hanging over the accreditation. Leaving was the best thing I ever did - the graduates of the course I started in are ineligible for chartership. I am eligible. (well, after 4 years of work obviously :P). I wouldn't go near your course with a barge pole. Neither, it seems, would the head of your department and that's a red flag if ever I saw one!

totothejuggler

Ok based on what eery one here has been saying I think I'm gonna change course. Still very annoyed about it but what else can I do?

Does anyone no the procedure for changing course? do you just turn up to that courses timetable? its not that simple is it? haha

I am strongly regretting putting this down on my cao

aperture_nuig

totothejuggler wrote: »

Ok based on what eery one here has been saying I think I'm gonna change course. Still very annoyed about it but what else can I do?

Does anyone no the procedure for changing course? do you just turn up to that courses timetable? its not that simple is it? haha

I am strongly regretting putting this down on my cao

You should talk to your course director about swapping course. Its a real shame about it, I know someone doing this course and they're in the same boat. You should be aware that you would most likely be allowed to swap to a course in the IT dept if software is more your thing. I'm a 4th year elec & comp in galway if you have any questions, just ask here or pm me and I'll do what I can

Cloud

Hi toto -

I'm the course director in question, just give me a shout to discuss further.

Thanks

John