New Horizons Learning

[nick_balls]

If you were at the recent PC fair or education fairs, I am sure you have seen New Horizons Learning's booth.
I like to share my experience with New Horizons Learning (NHL).
Usually they will start by inviting you to their one of their career nights where they will usually talk about the following things.

1. Mentored learning system
what they will say:-
A flexible system where you can come into class anytime (according to booking) where you sit through a video and class module and if you need help there will a trainer who can help.
Sounds great right?

- in truth, mentored learning is basically where you pay full prices for something less. You need to learn on your own (self study) if not you will not be able to keep with the long boring videos. Most of the time I see other students struggling to keep within their the limited classes.

-You also do not get good trainer to help you. Most of the time, trainers are not full time. Those non-full time trainers know squat and end up taking up alot of time in trial and error before they can resolve anything for you.
- so where are the good trainers? NHL certified and experienced trainers are mostly in classes teaching corporate customers.
mentored learning students will end up with part timers who usually show up whenever they have time.

-remember you also have limited classes where you allowed to sit. Even with their additional free classes you still spend alot of time learning on your own.

- so why are u paying full prices again?!

2. One to one coaching/ discussion sessions
-where you will able to meet with the trainer and learn.

-Yes but I could not find this helpful. As the trainers are always changing and you need to meet at the time convenient to them.


3. Citrep funding

Dont worry you can have CITREP funding to help you.

-in truth, yes you can have the funding but remember to see the terms and condition for it. The courses, exams and time limit. And yes they will always recommend the most expensive course without looking at your background or needs. Remember CITREP funding is on reimbuserment basis and it is not 100%.

3. Internal Assessment programs
we have internal assessment programs which can help you assess your level before you take your exams.

-my experience and several other takers, we usually do well in the assessment but keep failing exams. exams which actually gives the certified titles such MCSA, MCSE, CCNA etc.

- each time you sit for assessment, eats up class hours.

- so this internal exams are outdated and doesnt keep up with most current exams either Cisco, Microsoft etc.

4. we have years of track record and training centers worldwide.
-yes they do, but what is their track record in Singapore?

5. Value added job matching
- this is biggest sales point NHL loves using which I fell for.
- in the short time of 2 years since they started this program for job matching, they had 5 people with titles such as "career consultant", career advisor", 'career evangelist" etc. So you can understand how serious they are about the entire job matching scheme.
-Ask them how often do get job matches and how many people have they matched so far?
- Yes they have linking with some career agency but they have little to no jobs for NHL.
- yes they have corporate clients, but they do not hold any bargaining power on recommendation to any positions to their corporate clients.


6. My opinion
-but if you are experienced why even sit for courses like these?
-pay a $100 or more for self help books instead of thousands. because it is the same thing.
-then pay for the exams and sit for it.
-look online for 3rd party exam preparations, it helps alot.
- no need to waste time and you can do it the comforts of your home.

If you not experience and want to jump into IT, don't go for expensive courses like these. Seek help from WDA or e2i where course fees are much lower. Get job in IT first.
Most employers do not take people with certs with no experience or education in IT. It is just that tough.

I have given my opinion on this training place and careful before you place your hard earned money here.

Cheers

 

[Peter1980]

Hi,

Of course you're entitled to your point of view, and it doesn't also matter if you create a nick and with post of just 1 to post your displeasure with NH. Just that I don't see your point.

I'm thinking along the line that something must have irritated you that why you do so. There's always 2 sides to a story and I don't think NH is bad. If not, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place.

Why don't you tell us more about what makes you so upset? It's hard to believe totally what you said if you just have a one liner here.

 

[Gurus2009]

Hi All,

Honestly, based on my 15 years experience in this sector. NH has never received good feedback. and yet received law sue and CASE trust claim and many unpleasant event. Not to mentioned keep changing management and ownership. Anyway, their full time trainers are neither experience in real IT work, most of them probably done some teaching for the past few years. This is not experience.

Also they are not willing to pay for good trainer, that is why some of you may experience poor experiences. Based on my recent survey none of their trainer is Singaporean. You can imagine that!

It just purely means lower cost. Nevertheless, this is the way they do business to survive, no one can comments about that. One thing is for real, as they cannot compete with other better training centers, so they need to drop their price to win. So you just got to choose accordingly. they are not the Chanel or LV level, they are just Giordano type. So if you are ok that level of quality at that pricing, NH could be just right for you. but dont expect much. That is why Microsoft always engage Avantus or NetAssist which has far better trainer in Singapore.

In general, the following are the training centers you can consider.

Microsoft Office training, then COMAT is preferred.
Microsoft Server or .NET development, then Avantus or NetAssist
Cheap Price: Excom (but quality is questionsmark)
CISCO - Training partner or GKN
ITIL - HP, Training Partner, Pink Elephant and etc, definitely not Microsoft Certified training center.

Lastly, dont always listen to their course consultant or sales person. Just go and seat in and see how their trainer teach. if the trainer is good. make sure you request for that trainer which you are comfortable.

 

[Peter1980]

Being in the multiple position roles of both a jobseeker (previously, no thanks due to the current recession) and a hiring company (currently) as evident in my previous posting before which I welcome you to verify, as well as being a current student of NH, I deem it valid enough to defend them to certain extent. I'm going to go by point by point;

"1. Mentored learning system
what they will say:-
A flexible system where you can come into class anytime (according to booking) where you sit through a video and class module and if you need help there will a trainer who can help.
Sounds great right?

- in truth, mentored learning is basically where you pay full prices for something less. You need to learn on your own (self study) if not you will not be able to keep with the long boring videos. Most of the time I see other students struggling to keep within their the limited classes.

-You also do not get good trainer to help you. Most of the time, trainers are not full time. Those non-full time trainers know squat and end up taking up alot of time in trial and error before they can resolve anything for you.
- so where are the good trainers? NHL certified and experienced trainers are mostly in classes teaching corporate customers.
mentored learning students will end up with part timers who usually show up whenever they have time.

-remember you also have limited classes where you allowed to sit. Even with their additional free classes you still spend alot of time learning on your own.

- so why are u paying full prices again?!"

This was spelt out to anyone prior to signing up, so I don't see what's the issue here. The one I spoke to told me about what mentored learning is like and the price is already there prior to signing up. Unless you mean to say that the price is not there / they never explain to you prior to signing up, then you have a valid point. However in your own words,
"1. Mentored learning system
what they will say:-
A flexible system where you can come into class anytime (according to booking) where you sit through a video and class module and if you need help there will a trainer who can help.
Sounds great right?"

It shows you already knew what you're getting prior to signing up so what's the issue here? I don't understand. They never tell you what it is beforehand / never tell you how it works / never tell you what you're getting before you pay?



"2. One to one coaching/ discussion sessions
-where you will able to meet with the trainer and learn.

-Yes but I could not find this helpful. As the trainers are always changing and you need to meet at the time convenient to them."

Friend, seriously... You sound like you want every lecturer to work accordingly to your schedule instead. Even when I was in Poly / university / classses, never had such thing. Do you mean to say you want lecturers / teacher to work according to your schedule? Seriously!

"3. Citrep funding

Dont worry you can have CITREP funding to help you.

-in truth, yes you can have the funding but remember to see the terms and condition for it. The courses, exams and time limit. And yes they will always recommend the most expensive course without looking at your background or needs. Remember CITREP funding is on reimbuserment basis and it is not 100%."

I can tell you the terms and condition. Complete the training and pass the exam within 1 yr start of class. Once again, friend, seriously! You want our government to keep on sponsoring 80% of your course / certification fees till you pass, and one year isn't even enough? You must be kidding me! If you're not having issue with passing, then what is the issue here? I don't understand. Anyone in their right sense of mind will tell you that we take up courses like this to get the certification and to pass it. What's the point of taking if you don't intend to pass? Just passing time? Seriously!

"3. Internal Assessment programs
we have internal assessment programs which can help you assess your level before you take your exams.

-my experience and several other takers, we usually do well in the assessment but keep failing exams. exams which actually gives the certified titles such MCSA, MCSE, CCNA etc.

- each time you sit for assessment, eats up class hours.

- so this internal exams are outdated and doesnt keep up with most current exams either Cisco, Microsoft etc."

Explained earlier just like in point 2, seriously friend! you have some serious work to do. If you spend more time on your course and work, maybe you'll have passsed by now, rather than spending time in forum complaining about this, complaining about that, blah blah blah.

"4. we have years of track record and training centers worldwide.
-yes they do, but what is their track record in Singapore?"

I never checked their record but so far I won't say I'm extremely satisfied but I'm happy. Most important to me as a consumer is that I'm happy with what I'm getting. Even if a company has 200% perfect record but they screwed up with me, to me, it's still bad. If a company has 10/10 bad complaints, but they made me happy as a customer then to me, it's still a good company. Most important to me is what you're promised with, and what you got, not what's in the record.

To the best of my understanding, I don't really know about their record but I don't think they got a bad rating from any consumer group. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong, cause I'm not sure myself.

"5. Value added job matching
- this is biggest sales point NHL loves using which I fell for.
- in the short time of 2 years since they started this program for job matching, they had 5 people with titles such as "career consultant", career advisor", 'career evangelist" etc. So you can understand how serious they are about the entire job matching scheme.
-Ask them how often do get job matches and how many people have they matched so far?
- Yes they have linking with some career agency but they have little to no jobs for NHL.
- yes they have corporate clients, but they do not hold any bargaining power on recommendation to any positions to their corporate clients."

Like I mentioned earlier above, I have been in the position of a jobseeker previously before and a hirer now and I have had some resumes sent to me via NH as well. Let me tell you what I encountered so far.

I called up so far 10 plus for interview, Majority of them were acceptable but some of them were atrocious to say the least. 2 came to the interview wearing t-shirt and jeans, and either never came prepared for interview or never go to interviews before. When asked how will they handle when the problem has been deemed to be the customer's fault, they told me they will just tell the customer off.........?
The 3rd one, wonderfully (add any words you want here). When I called him, he said he was working but he was actually sleeping (don't ask how I know). Asked him if he is looking for a job and he said yes but asking how long is the working hours, which is fine, since it's only right for both parties to establish details prior to meeting lest we waste each others' time. But he kept on telling me he has to go off sharp at night cause he's taking his Master, etc, his father mother is rich, he's only out to gain work experience, etc. When asked whether he can read chinese, he told me his school chinese is the worst, never can, don't think he ever will. Actually we were not really interviewing and asking him to see if he can read chinese or not but rather if he is willing to learn / to try, if given the opportunity to explore new things. The result was total failure.

I hope you don't belong to any of the above mentioned category when going for job interviews but the way you phrased your words really makes one wonder. Don't think that signing up for NH course means it guarantee you a job. It all boils down to your character. I can give you a pot of gold but if you don't know how to manage your own money, you'll still be a pauper in the end.

"6. My opinion
-but if you are experienced why even sit for courses like these?
-pay a $100 or more for self help books instead of thousands. because it is the same thing.
-then pay for the exams and sit for it.
-look online for 3rd party exam preparations, it helps alot.
- no need to waste time and you can do it the comforts of your home."

My answer is as the same as point 1,2,3,4,5. You knew what you were signing up for. You didn't work hard and study, and yet you expect the sky, expect them to give you a job, expect to be spoon-fed. You can argue all you want, but your earlier words betrayed you.

You can definitely study on your own without going thru NH / any other learning institute. This is a no-brainer and practically common-sense and you don't have to go thru NH to understand this. Ppl who signed up for any learning courses already knew what they're getting prior to signing up.

However with that being said, I'm still here to help, not to belittle you. I'm here to make friends, not enemies, and to share our thoughts. If you're still looking for a job, you can pte msg me and I see what I can do for you. I'm still looking for staffs, and at the same time, if you're overqualified for my position, I can refer you to my friends if you're interested.

Take care, and God bless.

 

[Gurus2009]

Peter1980, - it sounds like you are working for NH. anyway you dont have to defend NH. the market know how their quality. Probably for new birds, they never check around, they wont know so much. There are many students who never manage to claim their CITREP due to poor administration. You can check with CASE to find out how many students have make report against them. Not only that, you can also check with MOM on how many trainers had made a law sue against them. Having said that, Mentored Learning do have the advantage if you dont mind doing self-study at your own page. other than that, nothing great.

 

[Ferrari^^]

yup its better to self learn for certs....

 

[Ferrari^^]

well ive talk to the ppl at new horizons before...they seem quite friendly....but yeah buying the book is a more cost effective option...

 

[Peter1980]

Peter1980, - it sounds like you are working for NH. anyway you dont have to defend NH. the market know how their quality. Probably for new birds, they never check around, they wont know so much. There are many students who never manage to claim their CITREP due to poor administration. You can check with CASE to find out how many students have make report against them. Not only that, you can also check with MOM on how many trainers had made a law sue against them. Having said that, Mentored Learning do have the advantage if you dont mind doing self-study at your own page. other than that, nothing great.

Gurus2009, You're free to check whether I'm working for NH simply by checking all my previous posting in hardwarezone, and see if I'm working for them. If I'm working for them, that means almost every posting I have is complimenting NH. At the same time, I'm still looking for people to hire, and those that sent the resume to me / came for interview will tell you whether I'm working in NH / not.

On a sidenote, you had just registered your account in hardwarezone june 09 and seem to have something against every other training institute other than those you recommend, based on the 7 postings you post so far in hardwarezone

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?p=38325790#post38325790
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?p=38298728#post38298728
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?p=38298450#post38298450
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?p=38298204#post38298204
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?p=38297911#post38297911

I hope that you can backup with substantial evidence to show that I'm working for NH. Otherwise, pls keep your comments in your head. Just like anyone else in a forum, I have a right to share my point of view and just because I don't support the original poster in his point of view doesn't mean I am working for NH.

Service wise, like I said earlier. I'm not sure about track record and you're free to correct me if wrong. Like you mentioned, NH got ppl suing them from both lecturers and students and things I'm not sure about, I won't comment further and you are definitely entitled to your point of view and I won't argue with that. However, I hope you can prove what you're saying by having substantial evidence to backup your point. I'm sure no one wants a lawsuit arising just because of a untrue statement one make in a forum without taking responsibility / claims.

With that said in mind, I also mentioned before
"I never checked their record but so far I won't say I'm extremely satisfied but I'm happy. Most important to me as a consumer is that I'm happy with what I'm getting. Even if a company has 200% perfect record but they screwed up with me, to me, it's still bad. If a company has 10/10 bad complaints, but they made me happy as a customer then to me, it's still a good company. Most important to me is what you're promised with, and what you got, not what's in the record."

 

[Peter1980]

well ive talk to the ppl at new horizons before...they seem quite friendly....but yeah buying the book is a more cost effective option...

Well, this is a thread to make friends, not enemies, and whether I like it or not, you're right on this.

 

[cdo_saturday]

Hi all,

ML is not that bad lar. At least it caters to those who are working full time and can only afford time to attend lessons on occasional weekday evenings and weekends. For my case, I enrolled for ML when I was unemployed at time. So i attended weekday lessons full time from 9 - 5. Then after I got a job, I booked evening lessons and weekends to continue with my mcsa.

I agree that New horizons is pretty expensive because I've compared the prices of the same course with other training centres but only New horizons offers ML which gives flexibility so I took it up.

One point to note is that for tutored lessons, most centres if not all, conduct classes twice a week. As I was unemployed at that time, I calculated it'll take me at least 6 months to complete the course. I wanted to gain the knowledge fast and obtain the cert soon. For ML, I can book my lessons and attend them when I want. I began my mcsa on May 19. I've since completed the first 2 modules and have passed the exams. Currently attending classes for my 3rd module.

My two cents. It's individual preference but I feel it's not fair to put down New horizons like this.

 

[Gurus2009]

Peter, yes, perhaps you are not working for NH. The sustantial evidence are out there. We do not need to go there. Nevertheless, If you are happy with them, that is good for you.

With regards to against every training institute except those i recommend. if you read catefuly, actually, those i recommend also have their own set of problems. I am advising to choose the right one when you go for specific course.

Lastly you are right, in forum you can post anything you want. it is up to individual to accpet it or not.

 

[Vector]

Agreed

yup its better to self learn for certs....

CCNA can self study with the right materials.... hehe....

 

[civicboi]

New Horizon Poor administration

Hi all,

I am one of the newbie who did not check this forum about new horizon. I had bought 2 microsoft vouchers from them and my sales consultant told me that the citrep administrator will assist me in claiming. I was charged 10% for an admin fee of the total price and when i passed my 2 exams, i checked with my sales consultant and she referred me to the citrep claims administrator. My sales consultant told me that when i took my 1st exam i should inform the citrep claims administrator 1 day before the exam, but on my careless part i only inform my sales consultant. Now i am only able to claim the 2rd exam paper of 80%.

I am thinking, although it was partly my mistake for not informing the citrep claims administrator, but shouldn't my sales consultant help me to forward the email to the citrep claims administrator? And now i managed to get in contact with the citrep claims administrator. I told her that i am a existing citrep registered user but she just asked me to register if i am a new user without providing solutions for existing user. In the end when i click on register for new account i was rejected as the system prompted me "nric exists in database". And now the best part they don't really take things seriously. I emailed them and waited for their reply and no reply. I still have to call them and then they answer my call.

I am paying for the 10% admin charges but yet it's like i am more anxious than them.
I agreed with Gurus2009 and blame it on my bad luck for not coming to this forum earlier to check.

 

[Gurus2009]

Bro,

why did you choose NH in the 1st place when there are so many school out there?

Sometime have to check whether the staff is just working to past time and earn a living or they are passionate about their job.

Hi all,

I am one of the newbie who did not check this forum about new horizon. I had bought 2 microsoft vouchers from them and my sales consultant told me that the citrep administrator will assist me in claiming. I was charged 10% for an admin fee of the total price and when i passed my 2 exams, i checked with my sales consultant and she referred me to the citrep claims administrator. My sales consultant told me that when i took my 1st exam i should inform the citrep claims administrator 1 day before the exam, but on my careless part i only inform my sales consultant. Now i am only able to claim the 2rd exam paper of 80%.

I am thinking, although it was partly my mistake for not informing the citrep claims administrator, but shouldn't my sales consultant help me to forward the email to the citrep claims administrator? And now i managed to get in contact with the citrep claims administrator. I told her that i am a existing citrep registered user but she just asked me to register if i am a new user without providing solutions for existing user. In the end when i click on register for new account i was rejected as the system prompted me "nric exists in database". And now the best part they don't really take things seriously. I emailed them and waited for their reply and no reply. I still have to call them and then they answer my call.

I am paying for the 10% admin charges but yet it's like i am more anxious than them.
I agreed with Gurus2009 and blame it on my bad luck for not coming to this forum earlier to check.

 

[fitzz82]

had a bad time w NH too a few years back. waste of $

 

[StoneCold]

From my personal experience, i would recommend self study, I was foolish enough to be a paying customer of NH 3 years ago. I passed all my exams due only to my own self study with no help from NH whatsoever. Even though i attended every lesson and paid full attention, it was my self study that made me pass, not what their cmi ppl were teaching.

 

[civicboi]

Bro,

why did you choose NH in the 1st place when there are so many school out there?

Sometime have to check whether the staff is just working to past time and earn a living or they are passionate about their job.

Hi Guru2009,

NH is quite near to my workplace and that time i din bother to check out forum for reports on NH till last few days i encountered the citrep claims issue. After that i came across this forum and then i realised what other members mentioned here are true. They are really quite poor in citrep claims administration and poor communication


Now i can only claim 1 voucher and have to forgo the 2rd voucher. The sales consultant is offering me a application course for free to compsensate back the loss but when i looked through the offered courses it is like nothing interest me at all. And best thing is if i choose any course, i still have to suit to their course schedule when it is starting and all courses are a full day course. Meaning i have to take leave just to go for the courses.

Although i haved passed my 2 mcse exams but i still feel that they should improve on their service.

 

[civicboi]

Bro,

I like your sentence that describe them, "CMI" heehee

 

[Aerrrial]

I was a new horizons trainer a couple of years back.
As I know, there is a disconnect between what is being taught and what is promised by the sales personnel. Typically sales know nothing about training and would simply make unrealistic promises to the students. When there is a problem, trainers gets the first blame. Yea, I wanted to lodge a MOM complaint against them because they docked my pay claiming that I did not deliver to their so called vague standards. I know they were having cash flow problems at that time. Even their own staff had delayed salaries. Oh well, I glad this trash of a training company is coming to light.

 

[d24roam]

hi all,

i recently joined new horizon for mentor learning approach,

reason:
it is because i can arrange my time myself, simple flexibility and slightly cheaper then other training provider.

experience:
BAD
i find out 2 things, the video training for self mentoring is not use at all, they didnt teach you everything on the subject you study, it is very hard to understand through the video itself,
GOOD
their lecturer is helpful, they provide some extra session to make you understand, however they are so call foreigner and sometime quite hard to understand their english compare to our singlish.

LASTLY:
the sales personal offer me to take their instructor lead course with no additional charges which i am impress and feel good of it. however, i still cant comment if the instructor classroom training is better?? now waiting for their schedule to join in for classroom training for my subject instead of mentor learning.


the above just my experience to new horizon, not to complaint or compliment anything.

for your reference if you would consider taking up mentor learning. unless you are experience in your subject taken, and very confident in picking up using self study menthod.

thank you
D to 4rom