Technical Publications Engineer Review

At the academy I was a student/trainee learning the modules to become an EASA CatB licensed engineer. I achieved a series of NVQs and currently working towards a foundation degree with aspirations to go onwards. My learning everyday was done in a cohort in classrooms painted bare white and with nothing else. I was taught by apparently competent instructors, with very few proving this to me. Besides this my welfare was perfectly managed at the start and after the first 6-8months this collapsed into a just deal with it attitude. I feel this may mainly be due to an over worked and pressurised welfare officer. This I feel led to several problems being overlooked or having a plaster put over them. After leaving the academy I have become a Technical Engineer and provide technical information to the RAF. Outside of the academy I have been pushed to improve my communication skills and my overall abilities as an engineer. With the help of my line managers in my current and previous role I have thrived.

My understanding and knowledge gained from the course has been brilliant the work books provided are superb. However, the only negative to this is there is a lot to learn and we were only given a very short amount of time to do this so I don't feel I extracted every ounce of knowledge and skills I could of done from the work books. The lecturers were mostly good with a few modules/subjects requiring me to go and ask someone else. The course content is brilliant but the way it was delivered was disappointing.

When being taught by someone who enjoys the subject area, is knowledgeable and capable of teaching I loved it. Some classes I was hooked on from start to finish however, some were taught in a way that watching a pool of water on the desk dry up was more entertaining. In these lessons I did most of learning myself and only asked the lecturer if I was stuck or needed something explaining. Outside of lessons the practical was brilliant until the on aircraft stage was cut drastically short which surprised me as we were training to be aircraft maintainers.

I don't believe my course had a structure or was organised at all. I believe from memory the timetable for my course was chopped and changed every month till the end. With delays and or shortening of classes often being put in place. However, once I started learning a subject, the instructors were brilliant gave us plenty of time to ask questions and understand the subject.

In my course I found that the support from the knowledgeable lecturers was superb they always found time to explain something in more depth or go over a subject with me. Besides that there was very little support from the academy for most of time there. My problems were only really taken seriously once I raised a formal complaint about the place. After leaving the academy and starting work here the support has been immense I cannot fault the people I work with and around always able to point you to the right person or question to ask.

From the lecturers I received loads they understood their subject area well and if they didn't there was always someone else I can talk to, to find the answer. Besides from the lecturers, the support staff were good but very slow at providing questions for the NVQs or providing feedback on whether or not we had done enough to pass. But for the most part the support was okay.

The qualification helps raise my knowledge and skills nearer my peers here but I still have a long way to go before I reach the wealth of knowledge here. The qualification I received is currently enabling me to go on and do higher education to bring me up to a similar academic understanding as my peers.

At the academy their are no opportunities to do anything outside the course with BAE Systems. This is similar in my current area where I take holiday to play for the station sports team. After being asked how I got permission to play on work time the RAF team mates I play alongside were outraged to hear I was using my personal holiday for the event they said I was helping strengthen ties between the RAF and BAE Systems by not just being a work colleague but also interacting with them in a less formal and more personal manner.

No

the organisation and structure seems to be floored from the top down. The team leaders and my line manager put me forward for career developing courses and talks. But outside of their small area of influence I cannot see any career progression or opportunities for personal development. Whilst working in my team is really enjoyable and beneficial to me. I cannot see any paths or doorways opening up to me as of yet.

Consider what job you want to do and whether or not the course is right for you and your future job aspirations. Always push yourself to do the best you can and always ask questions. Never settle for the second best option always aim to achieve your best regardless of other peoples thoughts or wants.