What is the deal with Vision2learn?

ZZaffy

My frustration is that I have applied on several occassions to Vision2learn, and there seems to be a different excuse each time (and sometimes the same excuse, which is even more annoying) as to why I cannot take the course, i.e. the course is full / not under the appropriate catchment area. But then they continue to target me. I was even accepted at one stage, everything was finalised and then an email arrived negating the invitation. As I say, I had even sent the forms off with all my details. I wonder what the ratio spaces to email is. If they only have a few spaces in a certain area then they should say so on the email, something like, people living in the west country need only apply. And if people do respond, their names should be added to a list for when a space is vacant in their area. Having been through varying degrees of the application to no avail, I am keen to know what Vision2learn is all about.

quietheart

ZZaffy wrote: »

There are other threads about Vision2learn on this website, and most of the posts are dissatisfied comments. Vision2learn contacted me by email, offering a free IT course. I said I was interested and they strung me along for a bit and then told me the course was not on offer in my area. Odd, because this course was entirely on-line. They sent me more emails offering me more free IT courses. Finally, I responded again saying I would like to take the course but this time they told me the course was full and did I want to take a course on how to loose weight? I declined, I'm only seven and a half stone. They sent me more emails, did I want to take a free on-line IT course? I emailed them saying 'yes' once again, and this time they sent me a form, it was pages and pages long. I filled it in and signed it several times. They sent it back saying I had omitted one signature. I signed it and sent it back. Then a few days later they left a message on the answer phone would I ring them back? I did, and had a very long conversation with them, they asked questions that I had already answered on the form and this time they also asked for my National Insurance Number. Now they had all my personal information. They then warned me that if I did not finish the course I would have to pay a penalty of around a couple of hundred pounds. I said this was okay because I had every intention of finishing the course. I was told my on-line tutor would be contacting me soon. Great, I thought. But today I received an email saying the IT course was over subscribed and did I want to take an Equality and Diversity course instead? I have sent them a stinking email and have also been in contact with The Skills Funding Agency, a government body which subsidises learning. They are looking into my query.

This is almost identical to what is happening to me.
Did you get a response from the Skills Funding Agency?
I'd be really interested to hear what they had to say.

saintjammyswine

Vision2learn are not on the Skills Funding Agency register of training providers (ACTOR) which means they do not have a direct contract for funding. They may have agreements with colleges to source candidates and place them on college courses, this is subcontracting and they are not on the list of subcontractors with an agregated contract of over £100k. Doesnt mean they are not a directly funded organisation in their own right, may be under a different name.

nandrews

I am concerned about this company,
The 'free' courses are I believe funded by the Government and the many forms you fill in are to enable V2L to claim their 'expenses' from the Government. Presumably the requirement to complete the course stems from the funding that they get, That they have to prove they are getting enough students through.
I am finding that my coursework is not going to be all my own work! The assessments I send in (the only marking for the whole course) are being returned to me for 're-working to achieve a pass'!
I have not met this coaching for a pass result before and it doesn't seem right.
Any others think this way?.

Nigel

Dunroamin

nandrews wrote: »

I am concerned about this company,
The 'free' courses are I believe funded by the Government and the many forms you fill in are to enable V2L to claim their 'expenses' from the Government. Presumably the requirement to complete the course stems from the funding that they get, That they have to prove they are getting enough students through.
I am finding that my coursework is not going to be all my own work! The assessments I send in (the only marking for the whole course) are being returned to me for 're-working to achieve a pass'!
I have not met this coaching for a pass result before and it doesn't seem right.
Any others think this way?.

Nigel

I don't think it's right but it isn't uncommon. Much GCSE course work is marked in this way.

nandrews

Thanks Dunroamin
I guess so and the course work marks go as part of the final result.
But at least the exam is done with strict no 'coaching' rules, no cribbing from neighbours and no other assistance.

Nigel

denla

nandrews wrote: »

I am concerned about this company,
The 'free' courses are I believe funded by the Government and the many forms you fill in are to enable V2L to claim their 'expenses' from the Government. Presumably the requirement to complete the course stems from the funding that they get, That they have to prove they are getting enough students through.
I am finding that my coursework is not going to be all my own work! The assessments I send in (the only marking for the whole course) are being returned to me for 're-working to achieve a pass'!
I have not met this coaching for a pass result before and it doesn't seem right.
Any others think this way?.

Nigel

Employers will probably research and find out about this pass guaranteed method and won't respect your qualification.

quietheart

I've recently completed the Business Administration course and found it to be interesting.
I didn't get any work returned, the tutor showed where she would have elaborated on my answers but no help was given, no re-writing suggested etc. It may be like you find the odd teacher who gives too much help with coursework that the tutor in question went too far in their role.

beeby63

I started A business administration course with V2L last June after redundancy. I wanted to improve my CV as much as possible. At first my tutor was quite prompt in replying but like many others, I was constantly having to re submit units. I returned to work a few months later and explained to my tutor that my time commitment would now be less and she said it was absolutely fine and send over the assessments as and when. I received a disgraceful call from V2L stating that 'They over rule any conversation with my tutor and that if my course was not completed by the time I said it would be originally, they would charge me £65 admin fee'. I worked three nights after work to ensure I got the assessments in so that I would not have to pay. They were submitted on 15th November 2012. As of today, they have not even be marked. I have had one email from the tutor apologizing for being off, that was on the 13th December. Since then, nothing. I have also been made aware now that many others are still waiting for certificates for arrive 4-5 months after finishing their respective courses and cannot even get hold of tutors or the V2l administrators.
I will write to whomever I have too to get a satisfactory answer on this. Its disgusting that people are trying to improve themselves only to be treated appallingly.

heretolearn_2

Well I've just signed the contract to do the Equality and Diversity one (to give my CV a boost with a few long term plans in mind) so I'll let you know! Seems pretty legit to me so far. This is through Somerset College as well. I'm happy enough that I can do the assignments and get them back on time, I already study with OU and that is a lot more demanding, so if V2L want to start playing silly !!!!!!s with me then they'll be biting off more than they can chew. But as always, people tend to respond to queries with complaints rather than positive feedback, a happy customer tells no one, an unhappy customer tells everyone. Not saying that the people who had a bad experience are wrong, but no company can be 100% service 100% of the time to 100% of customers.
I looked at course reviews on Ciao before signing up and there are plenty of happy people there who have done the course I'm signed up for, and it being a general review site I've trusted the reviews from people who have submitted a large number, not just for V2L of course!