Anyone know anything about the EAL 2330 course?

[OllieNotts]

Our college are considering changing from C&G next year because of the new NVQ system that requires students to be working in the industry to complete the NVQ and this EAL are being mentioned. I have never heard of them so wondering if this will hinder future prospects when prospective employers look and think it is a lesser qual?

 

[sparksflying]

Our college are considering changing from C&G next year because of the new NVQ system that requires students to be working in the industry to complete the NVQ and this EAL are being mentioned. I have never heard of them so wondering if this will hinder future prospects when prospective employers look and think it is a lesser qual?

Hi Ollie,

The 2330 is now being extended by City & Guilds because of the issues you mention.

Basically, the issue is branding. EAL are a really good awarding body but not many people realise that they are the main awarding body for apprenticeships in the UK and have been the leading one in engineering for some time. Some would argue that they offer a much better service than City & Guilds due to the fact that their EV's are actually employed by EAL directly, unlike many of City & Guilds EV's. Also, they have made the new Diploma a lot more student and teacher friendly by providing alternative assessment methods, making it easier on the student to complete, but not reducing the quality of the learning, thus reducing the assessment time that a teacher will have to spend on each assessment in comparison to City & Guilds Diploma which will be a nightmare when the modules need assessing.

I think the issue is that most of us have been in the trade for years and expect our qualifications to be C & G. Anything other than C&G and we view this as an inferior qualification. The fact is that EAL work in partnership with C & G to develop these qualifications and are only now becoming recognised as a major player in our industry. Your main issue is going to be convincing the employers that they are not receiving an inferior qualification, as they, like many believe that if it does not say City & Guilds on it, it is not a proper qualification.

I would definately go with EAL as they are really on the ball and the more colleges that do choose an alternative provider, the more City & Guilds are likely to wake up and smell the coffee and acknowledge that they have been living off their past reputation for far too long.

 

[OllieNotts]

Hi, thanks for the info sparksflying, I was a bit concerned that it would be deemed a lesser qualification. The biggest positive of this move is that as a mature student they seem to believe it will be free for me. And C&G would be around 2.5k for level 3 and NVQ and we would also need to be "in the trade" to complete the NVQ. Their website looks ok, but can't find any real info on the course as everything in a search brings up people doing C&G so maybe they will stick with the norm and charge us as its been extended.
In a perfect world I will be able to get a job in the trade anyway next yearand it wouldnt be an issue anyway bar the challenge of finding 2.5k of monies to do it.

Jane I dont know if you are talking of the same course I am as the EAL would be done in college one full day a week nothing to do with staying at home to study?