Intra - Robbing your summer and OMG, I have to do it next year.

gerrowadat · 03-05-2006 10:06AM

Scr&#225 wrote: »

Aye thats what I find to be the real kick in the teeth about Intra. We could be doing a J1, living in Europe for the Summer or Inter-Railing but the placement really kills that idea.

You're doing a university degree. That implies curtailing your activites somewhat in any case. You can't work a fulltime job, you can't sod off somewhere for a couple months during the semester, why are you complaining that you can't do it during INTRA? You knew about it 3 years ago when you signed up for the course. Yes, it's a pain in the hole, but it's one summer out of a jillion. You're basically not being assessed, just don't get fired and try to enjoy yourself.

Will · 03-05-2006 11:47AM

well im glad im exempt from INTRA, *pats erasmus on the head* well guys would yis rather be in college doing exams now or "working" and getting paid for it?
Comisserations to the people who arent enjoying it

:(
to those who are...yeah well done

phreak · 03-05-2006 01:26PM

Some of the arguments here against INTRA are absolutely ridiculous.

So you lose a summer? you have 3 others whilst in college to go away and do whatever you want. whos fault is it if you haven't?

As for the way INTRA is run... Its not the best system for students but if it didn't have the rules it does then there would be a lot fewer companies each year. INTRAs rules aren't unique... i was talking to a couple of students from NUIG last week and their INTRA equivalent has the exact same rules as we do.

Also, it's not as if you're forced to use the INTRA system. If you want to sort your own job out or start your own business you can.

The only person here with a decent reason to bitch about INTRA is exzantia because they ****ed him over so close to INTRA starting.

Suaimhneach · 03-05-2006 02:48PM

Just because you have four summers doesnt mean its okay for them to essentailly take one. Though, to be fair, I don't really mind.

Sounds fairly harsh exantia, hope ye can get it sorted.

I really hope I dont end up somewhere I hate. Think I'll end up following Faceless Mans request!

andrew163 · 03-05-2006 09:28PM

I'm only a measly first year.. so there's a good while before I do INTRA.. but when I filled out the CAO form last year putting down DCU in position 1, I did so knowing that there'd be no summer off in 3rd year. If it's a problem that it's compulsary then that's a mistake that you made 3 years ago...

Personally I'm looking forward to it... I know one person who's in the US doing something sciency and they seem to be enjoying it... and have heard a bit from phaxx and gizmo on redbrick about their experiences... Even if I get posted in..er..say... near Belfield (possibly the most awkward place in Ireland for me to get to - not far enough to justify moving but damn far for a commute) it still seems like an interesting few months. Whether or not I'm still feeling the same way in 3 years time will be a different story..

Art_Wolf · 04-05-2006 10:31AM

I agree it needs to be remain compulsary - heh optional would be a disaster

I didnt know about intra till 2nd semester of 1st year when I saw the third years leaving.

Things that could be done for the system - actually giving all the jobs at once, not adding them on one by one.. surily they are not doing everything at the last min? This way you can see all jobs and which would help you in your future career - for instance Cisco would have been a cool job but it was offered after I had done several interviews and gotten a job.

What about a placement down in say Cork or Belfast or Limrick or *shudder* Muff

Having a house to live in in Dublin to the annoyance of having to rent an apartment just because I HAD to attend an interview and HAD to accept their job offer...

gizmo · 04-05-2006 10:50AM

Art_Wolf wrote:

I didnt know about intra till 2nd semester of 1st year when I saw the third years leaving.

Well that is neither DCU nor INTRA's fault. I would have assumed you'd read it in the course prospectus.

Art_Wolf wrote:

Things that could be done for the system - actually giving all the jobs at once, not adding them on one by one.. surily they are not doing everything at the last min? This way you can see all jobs and which would help you in your future career - for instance Cisco would have been a cool job but it was offered after I had done several interviews and gotten a job.

This isn't actually INTRAs fault either. I raised this issue with Maria McCarthy before and to put it quite simply they have to constantly chase down the employers to get them to get their job descriptions in so they can be put online. The only way around this is to set a deadline for employers however this *could* make them twice about putting a position forward since they might not want to be rushed.

Art_Wolf wrote:

What about a placement down in say Cork or Belfast or Limrick or *shudder* Muff Having a house to live in in Dublin to the annoyance of having to rent an apartment just because I HAD to attend an interview and HAD to accept their job offer...

Well you're going to have to leave Dublin or at the very least move out at some stage. Look at INTRA as possibly that kick in the arse you've been waiting for.

Art_Wolf · 04-05-2006 11:03AM

Faceless Man wrote:

Well that is neither DCU nor INTRA's fault. I would have assumed you'd read it in the course prospectus.

Meh to read up on all computer course nah - I read more about the colleges and what the courses will do, I didnt examine each module

Faceless Man wrote:

This isn't actually INTRAs fault either. I raised this issue with Maria McCarthy before and to put it quite simply they have to constantly chase down the employers to get them to get their job descriptions in so they can be put online. The only way around this is to set a deadline for employers however this *could* make them twice about putting a position forward since they might not want to be rushed.

Alot of the companies are the same from last year - it should be easy for them to ask to confirm or change the description. Why not start doing this now? Why are they only confirming the placements during Intra? Are they really that usless in talking to HR departments? I certainly hope not..

Faceless Man wrote:

Well you're going to have to leave Dublin or at the very least move out at some stage. Look at INTRA as possibly that kick in the arse you've been waiting for.

What nonsense is this?! The plan is to kill off the rest of the family and inherit the house

That or get employed by Amazon and have them pay for everything like they like to :cool:

gizmo · 04-05-2006 11:25AM

Art_Wolf wrote:

Alot of the companies are the same from last year - it should be easy for them to ask to confirm or change the description. Why not start doing this now? Why are they only confirming the placements during Intra? Are they really that usless in talking to HR departments? I certainly hope not..

Nope, its the confirmation of the placement and any change in job description that INTRA require and thats what they have trouble getting from the companies. You know what it's like dealing with people in DCU right, well imagine that, except much worse.

GavMan · 05-05-2006 12:38AM

about that job in boston Mark got offered, now dont quote me on this, but if that were in say france or anywhere in the EU, and u were not allowed to take, this may be considered restricting the free movement of Labour within the EU and very illegal as this is one of the very fundamentals of the EU.
but in anycase, there must surely be a legal question mark over the whole, 'you have to take the 1st job you're offered' rule. if i were offered the chance to live and work in boston and i couldn't because of the above rule, id deffo be having a word with a solicitor, to see where i stood.
this is how i see the play runing:
bam, get an injunction on DCU making u do intra in a place u would prefer not to work in, compared to the boston job. bam, get an injuction on the US company giving it to someone else. then hang tough till DCU give in and let u get ur way.

gizmo · 05-05-2006 08:37AM

Heh, INTRA have themselves covered unfortunately. Once you sign the handbook stating you agree to abide by the rules of the program thats it, you have to. Off the top of my head they also cater for the above senario by stating that they will ONLY deal with you, the student, at this end and will not entertain queries from parents, guardians or "third party". Unfortunatly I *think* that if you refuse to sign the rules you basically fail the year, now I'm not sure about this so I'll look into it later but I'm pretty sure thats the gist of it anyway.

cooker3 · 05-05-2006 09:29AM

Faceless Man wrote:

Heh, INTRA have themselves covered unfortunately. Once you sign the handbook stating you agree to abide by the rules of the program thats it, you have to. Off the top of my head they also cater for the above senario by stating that they will ONLY deal with you, the student, at this end and will not entertain queries from parents, guardians or "third party". Unfortunatly I *think* that if you refuse to sign the rules you basically fail the year, now I'm not sure about this so I'll look into it later but I'm pretty sure thats the gist of it anyway.

Really, thats interesting as I have never signed 1 thing related to Intra as of yet and certainly didn't sign the handbook

markpb · 05-05-2006 09:59AM

Lets not go over the top. No solicitor is going to entertain any ideas of sueing the college over something like this, its part and parcel of the course. If nothing else, its work experience, not a job so the EU regs on free movemnet of labour have nothing to do with it. Even the minimum wage act doesn't cover it - ask anyone in EBF how much they get paid when they're on work ex. in France.

INTRA isn't perfect but it's a very important part of the course. No matter how rubbish your job is, no matter how little it has to do with your course, its still time spent in a company and that will stand to you later.

Making it optional isn't a good alternative. Personally I hated Languages and Computability in CA2 and would have happily dropped it if it was optional but it's part of the course and useful to have so its a core module, just like Intra. I could say the same about Leaving Cert Irish ;o)

gizmo · 05-05-2006 10:10AM

markpb wrote:

Lets not go over the top. No solicitor is going to entertain any ideas of sueing the college over something like this, its part and parcel of the course. If nothing else, its work experience, not a job so the EU regs on free movemnet of labour have nothing to do with it. Even the minimum wage act doesn't cover it - ask anyone in EBF how much they get paid when they're on work ex. in France.

INTRA isn't perfect but it's a very important part of the course. No matter how rubbish your job is, no matter how little it has to do with your course, its still time spent in a company and that will stand to you later.

Amen...

markpb wrote:

Personally I hated Languages and Computability in CA2 and would have happily dropped it if it was optional but it's part of the course and useful to have so its a core module...

Not to go off topic but I have found L&C and its follow up Complexity, completely and utterly useless. I learned absolutly nothing from either of them and all they did was take away valuable study time from other more useful subjects. Its something I'd like to take up with the programme board tbh, if only to see their reasonings to keeping it a core module.

Art_Wolf · 05-05-2006 10:17AM

Faceless Man wrote:

Not to go off topic but I have found L&C and its follow up Complexity, completely and utterly useless. I learned absolutly nothing from either of them and all they did was take away valuable study time from other more useful subjects. Its something I'd like to take up with the programme board tbh, if only to see their reasonings to keeping it a core module.

Heh I actually found some use out of it in my current job.. was rather shocked

bananarepublic · 08-05-2006 08:42PM

Sorry to hear all the horror stories , i worked full time for about 15months before going into college . It was relevant to my degree although a entry position should that be enough to get me an exemption or what do you need.

Ste.phen · 08-05-2006 10:40PM

if its relevant and was at least 6 weeks (i think) long, then in theory it's exemptable, its really down to the discretion of the INTRA cooridinator I think, but a few people in our year were exempted because they had relevant experience, so its worth a shot if you actually have something planned for the 6 months. If not, i'd recommend INTRA

rainbow kirby · 10-05-2006 02:34AM

I actually wish we had something like INTRA as part of our course! (Computer Science, UCD) It'd be really nice to have 6 months experience to throw on my CV at the end of my degree...

Intra - Robbing your summer and OMG, I have to do it next year.

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