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The First Lady

IRO gets its first recruit to new degree course for operators

The first person to sign up for the Institution of Railway Operators’ (IRO) new Batchelor of Science degree course is – surprisingly perhaps for such a male-dominated industry – a woman.
Tricia Meade, a Senior Consultant in the safety and risk management field with AEA Technology at Warrington, decided to sign on the dotted line as soon as she heard about the opportunity to further her studies and career.
Tricia has worked in the rail industry with AEA for five years alongside some of the main stakeholders in the industry such as Rail Safety and Standards Board, Association of Train Operating Companies and Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate.
She recently successfully completed the IRO’s associate’s course and saw the degree as the logical next step. She said: “The degree course will expand my knowledge and open up opportunities to develop and progress within the industry by providing a nationally recognised and transferable qualification.”
Tricia’s interest in the rail industry has developed during her time with AEA, where she was previously an HR manager. She joined the IRO in May 2003 and attends her local IRO North Western regional meetings and those held in within other IRO areas.
Claire Wickes, the IRO’s administration officer was doubly delighted at Tricia’s decision. “We are pleased in the first instance that we have our first fully paid up recruit,” said Claire, “and that Tricia is an independent member and not a corporate.“
The IRO’s BSc course is run through the Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). IRO members who enrol on the course will become students of the GCU, with full access to all of its facilities, especially online.

Its modules are:
• Personal and professional development through work based learning; managing passenger and freight operations; train planning and performance management (part 2); safety law and management (part 2); train movement control systems; emergency planning, mishap management and investigation; railway engineering; railway; railway economics and an end of course project.

Each module involves self-study of a CD-ROM and referenced publications and students will be expected to undertake their own research. It is estimated that the Degree will take 24 months to complete.
Assessment will be based on course and project work and by interview at the end of the course.
Support for members will be provided by telephone or face to face by both CGU tutors as well as those appointed by the IRO who have a railway industry background.
Degree course fees will be £2450 or £2095 for employees of IRO corporate members. The IRO also offers a Diploma, which costs £1995 or £1750 for employees of IRO corporate members.
Ends

Note to editors:
• The Institution of Railway Operators was founded in 2000. Its Chairman is Chris Leah and its Chief Executive is Chris Daughton.
• The Institution provides a focus for raising standards and enhancing the professional standing of those directly involved in the safe and reliable operation of railways.
• Woodhouse Communications issued this release on behalf of the IRO. For more information contact Paul Lawson of Woodhouse on 01444 473588 or Claire Wickes of the IRO on 01444 248931

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13 May 05
Degree course for railway operators

IRO achieves a ‘first’ for operations!

Further education and personal development for railway operators will reach a new high in September this year when the first Institution of Railway Operators (IRO) students enrol on a course that could lead to a degree.
The IRO has reached agreement with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) to offer two courses - a Bachelor of Science degree and a Diploma in Higher Education - in professional studies relating to railway operating, performance and safety.
The agreement to offer a degree course is a first for railway operators and a tremendous step forward for the young institution and its members.
Agreement on the accreditation of IRO courses by the GCU was reached after months of detailed negotiations between the two bodies.
IRO chairman Chris Leah hailed the accreditation as a “giant leap“ in the education of railway operators. He said: “The Institution’s reason for being is to provide personal development opportunities for operators throughout the industry. This is undoubtedly our high point so far. I am delighted with the agreement we have reached with GCU.
“The courses will give successful students a transferable academic qualification as well as improve their industry knowledge,” he added “which will inevitably boost career prospects.”
Vince Mills, Senior Lecturer in Work Based Learning at GCU said: “The government has been urging higher education and industry to get together to share knowledge and expertise. The partnership between the University and the IRO opens up opportunities for staff in the railway industry to access higher education as well as opportunities for higher education to get close to the railway industry.
“We are confident that we will learn from each other and together find other ways of enhancing the learning experience of staff who work in the rail sector.”
Both Diploma and Degree courses are divided into modules, each of which has been written and developed by experienced railway managers in their particular fields. All modules are CD-ROM based and totally interactive - students will need access to a computer with a CD drive and access to email.

The Diploma of Higher Education modules are:
• Personal and professional development through work based learning; railway operating principles; customer service; managing people; train planning and performance management (part 1); safety law and management (part 1); railway business organisation and an end of course project.

The Degree course modules are:
• Personal and professional development through work based learning; managing passenger and freight operations; train planning and performance management (part 2); safety law and management (part 2); train movement control systems; emergency planning, mishap management and investigation; railway engineering; railway; railway economics and an end of course project.

Each module involves self study of the CD-ROM and referenced publications as well as undertaking their own research. It is estimated that Diploma students will need to do at least 300 hours’ study, taking between 12 and 18 months to complete the programme, while the Degree will take 24 months.
Assessment will be based on course and project work and by interview at the end of the course.
IRO members who enrol on the course will become students of the GCU, with full access to all of the University’s facilities, especially online. Support for members will be provided by telephone or face to face by both CGU tutors as well as those appointed by the IRO who have a railway industry background.
Degree course fees will be £2450 or £2095 for employees of IRO corporate members and £1995 or £1750 for employees of IRO corporate members for the Diploma.
Full details can be found at the IRO website – www.railwayoperators.org. Alternatively contact Mike Hill, the IRO’s education programme administrator, for more details and application forms by emailing him education@railwayoperators.org.

Ends

Note to editors:
• The Institution of Railway Operators was founded in 2000. Its Chairman is Chris Leah and its Chief Executive is Chris Daughton.
• The Institution provides a focus for raising standards and enhancing the professional standing of those directly involved in the safe and reliable operation of railways.
• Woodhouse Communications issued this release on behalf of the IRO. For more information contact Paul Lawson of Woodhouse on 01444 473588 or Claire Wickes of the IRO on 01444 248931

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