I'm aware of that, but working out trig, how to divide numbers and logarithms? Sorry but what is that to do with networking? I understand binary and all the other bits I don't need to know how to work out the length of a side of a triangle or anything else similar.
Anyone else doing foundation degree at a college and feel conned?
- Thread starter -Mike-
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I'm aware of that, but working out trig, how to divide numbers and logarithms? Sorry but what is that to do with networking? I understand binary and all the other bits I don't need to know how to work out the length of a side of a triangle or anything else similar.
Well like most courses they probably want to make sure you have a good grasp of the basics before going onto the more advanced stuff. It is a foundation course after all.
Indeed, I think I shall change next year!
Well I hope you get it sorted, not a great situation to be in.
Im currently doing a foundation degree so i should be able to answer any questions people have.
Its a part time course 1 day a week and ive got to say im learning a lot through it, my course is electrical and electronic engineering.
A foundation degree is a stepping stone towards getting a full degree. In my course its.
year 1+2 = HNC
year 3 = Foundation
Year 4 = Full degree
£5900 for a two year course, you must be mad
mine is only £900 a year.
Its a part time course 1 day a week and ive got to say im learning a lot through it, my course is electrical and electronic engineering.
A foundation degree is a stepping stone towards getting a full degree. In my course its.
year 1+2 = HNC
year 3 = Foundation
Year 4 = Full degree
£5900 for a two year course, you must be madmine is only £900 a year.
Hi Shadez,
£900 a year? Thats cheap but then mine is 3 days a week not one. Though it seems to be padded out with a lot of stuff you don't really appear to need or in my case want to do. Year one and two give us the foundation degree, a third topup year at plymouth provides a full degree.
£900 a year? Thats cheap but then mine is 3 days a week not one. Though it seems to be padded out with a lot of stuff you don't really appear to need or in my case want to do. Year one and two give us the foundation degree, a third topup year at plymouth provides a full degree.
Foundation degree is not like a foundation course, it's between a HND and a degree without honours in terms of course credits and is a HE qualification.
I did one and quite enjoyed learning Java although my course was a different one to yours and was a general IT route rather than networking. Sucks if you have tutors not turning up. We had a tutor that didn't speak english that well and had problems communicating with the group so we complained about it and they got someone else in. I did it thorugh university of Hertfordshire part-time.
The main good point for it with me was that after completing it you have the option of getting an hons degree in 1 year by going to uni either full time or part time to do a top-up year. I did feel that the price was pretty high for what you come out of it with, but I was working full-time when I did mine so didn't struggle to pay too much and don't have any debts coming out of it, which probably wouldn't be the case if i had gone to uni full-time.
I did one and quite enjoyed learning Java although my course was a different one to yours and was a general IT route rather than networking. Sucks if you have tutors not turning up. We had a tutor that didn't speak english that well and had problems communicating with the group so we complained about it and they got someone else in. I did it thorugh university of Hertfordshire part-time.
The main good point for it with me was that after completing it you have the option of getting an hons degree in 1 year by going to uni either full time or part time to do a top-up year. I did feel that the price was pretty high for what you come out of it with, but I was working full-time when I did mine so didn't struggle to pay too much and don't have any debts coming out of it, which probably wouldn't be the case if i had gone to uni full-time.
Apart from the strangeness with the attitude, it sounds like a pretty good foundation course.
Networking, as you are probably aware, isn't just about plugging stuff together.
If something isn't working, you might need to run some tests...the results of which you can manipulate in a spreadsheet package...hmm like Excel...
Maths is important for all kinds of stuff with networks...I'm not quite sure where...but I'm sure you'll need some.
This year is about making sure everyone is on the same page, ie. a good solid foundation. It's the building blocks of what you will go on and study.
Networking, as you are probably aware, isn't just about plugging stuff together.
If something isn't working, you might need to run some tests...the results of which you can manipulate in a spreadsheet package...hmm like Excel...
Maths is important for all kinds of stuff with networks...I'm not quite sure where...but I'm sure you'll need some.
This year is about making sure everyone is on the same page, ie. a good solid foundation. It's the building blocks of what you will go on and study.
pretty much the same for me.. just i dont pay was 18 when started.. i should be doing IT stuff computer systems(more into hardware than software) is what i choose.. i do programming, E-commerce, maths, communication skills, databases/spreadsheets... :/
A degree is not a vocational qualification or a training program, that's an apprenticeship, you were expecting the wrong thing from a degree really. C and Java are two of the most commonly used languages and are very useful to have as part of a networking course.
Then you're at the wrong institution. I'm doing an FdSc in IT for Business at Kingston University, and I can take a third year to top mine up to BSc standard. It includes modules based on Cisco CCNA, Microsoft MCSA and Comptia A+ certifications (which are also bundled in, you reclaim the cost). There's also project management, java and a couple of other software-oriented modules.
By the way for those that are confusing foundation degree with foundation year - a foundation year is an alternative to doing A-levels, and is tailored to a specific degree area. A foundation degree is similar to a HND, but allows entry onto the final year of a BSc\BA course.
Edit: I suppose it helps that the course leader's a top bloke, and one of the other two tutors is also exceptional. In fact, we were having so much of a laugh at some points the sessions nearly went entirely off topic.
By the way for those that are confusing foundation degree with foundation year - a foundation year is an alternative to doing A-levels, and is tailored to a specific degree area. A foundation degree is similar to a HND, but allows entry onto the final year of a BSc\BA course.
Edit: I suppose it helps that the course leader's a top bloke, and one of the other two tutors is also exceptional. In fact, we were having so much of a laugh at some points the sessions nearly went entirely off topic.
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3 days a week dont think i could do that, its hard enough at work just doing just 1 day a week.
There is a bit of unnecessary faff in my course as well, who needs business in an electronics degree?
But other than that and some problems with tutors at the start of the year its all going well.
Not looking forward to next week, getting the results back of our last exam
its either going to be a decent score or utter fail
Just out of interest, how many of the people commenting here who have done or are doing a foundation degree went on to do the top-up year to a full hons degree, or have solid plans to do so?
I decided to take a year off while i thought about it as it's a lot of money to spend and if i can get a better job on the qualifications I have then i'd much rather do that. I just feel that the foundation degree as a qualification aren't recognised for what they are (as evidenced by some of the misunderstanding in the thread) most employers probably aren't that familiar with them either. I'd be interested to hear any opinions on this as i'll need to decide soon what i'm going to do.
I decided to take a year off while i thought about it as it's a lot of money to spend and if i can get a better job on the qualifications I have then i'd much rather do that. I just feel that the foundation degree as a qualification aren't recognised for what they are (as evidenced by some of the misunderstanding in the thread) most employers probably aren't that familiar with them either. I'd be interested to hear any opinions on this as i'll need to decide soon what i'm going to do.
I do. Even the university is a bit fussy about the top-up procedure. Although it helps in my case that the course is very vocational and already funds\prepares for some IT certifications.
Indeed, frankly I'm fairly shocked at the OP's attitude towards the maths content of his course. Basic numeracy (an I mean A-Level type maths here) is in my mind a prerequisite for any technical, network, engineering type qualification. I wouldn't employ a network engineer who didn't have that level of mathematical ability.
I'm also surprised at the OP's attitude that he doesn't need to learn anything he can't see is directly related to his idea of network engineering. What about getting a broad education? What about change of scope of role in the future? What if his idea of network engineering is incomplete?
Just seems strange to be so closed minded about such things.
First post in GD but ill thought ill add to this thread.
At my college where I did an electrical and electronic HND, they replaced it with the foundation degree 1 year after I started. If I remember correctly the teachers mentioned that Excel were pushing it as the next best thing and want to replace the HND with it across the board.
From what I heard it is a course which teaches you less than the HND course it replaced and is filled with pointless subjects and modules most of which the teachers hated and saw no point in.
At my college where I did an electrical and electronic HND, they replaced it with the foundation degree 1 year after I started. If I remember correctly the teachers mentioned that Excel were pushing it as the next best thing and want to replace the HND with it across the board.
From what I heard it is a course which teaches you less than the HND course it replaced and is filled with pointless subjects and modules most of which the teachers hated and saw no point in.
You mean Edexcel, right?