Institution of Railway Operators’ courses lead ‘quiet revolution’

Listen to this article

More and more railway employees are taking control of their careers, courtesy of the Institution of Railway Operators’ increasingly popular course provision.

As the IRO launches its Professional Development Programme (PDP) for 2011/12, staff at all grades are seeing their prospects flourish thanks to the programme, with 150 students having already achieved either a certificate, diploma or degree in Railway Operational Management.

Announcing the latest recruitment drive, IRO chairman David Franks said: “Our Professional Development Programme is fantastic as it gives people a realistic, achievable and ultimately rewarding goal.

“It also unlocks people’s potential. It’s so important that rail operators across the industry encourage their staff to acquire and develop their skill set, as possessing the right skills is becoming critical to running a successful operation.”

The programme, which currently has 158 students enrolled, is run in conjunction with leading educational provider Glasgow Caledonian University and offers a flexible approach to study, with courses delivered through a combination of distance learning and tutorials, all taught by recognised industry experts.

“The PDP lifts the student out of their individual role and shows them the bigger picture, helping to broaden their operational understanding and opening them up to a host of career boosting networking opportunities,” explained the IRO’s learning and development manager Tricia Meade.

Enrolment on an IRO course also leads to IRO membership either at Affiliate, Associate or full Member grade, with all of the benefits this entails, including networking opportunities, career guidance, localised support with structured programmes of visits/‘best practice’ events and professional affiliation and recognition (e.g. AIRO, MIRO). And with all courses fully accredited and industry endorsed, IRO affiliation is now being seen more as a necessity for career progression than a ‘nice to have.’

Added IRO chairman David Franks: “We are not purely about education, but through our courses and membership opportunities, offer access to an incredible wealth of knowledge, support and cross industry camaraderie.”

From a developmental perspective, the IRO’s support doesn’t end with the PDP. As well as the benefits of membership, the Institution also empowers the individual to chart their own progression through the popular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and mentoring initiatives. CPD enables IRO members to chart their own progress through an evidence-based portfolio, while the mentoring scheme pairs skilled and experienced IRO members (mentors) with other members (mentees), helping guide them through their career development.

So if you are looking to give your railway career a boost, look no further than the IRO, helping put you firmly in control of your own career…

Enrolment for the 2011/2012 Professional Development Programme is now open and runs until 31st July 2011. For further information, please visit the IRO website or e-mail [email protected].

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Rail News

ORR review leads to 50% reduction in maximum fees for ticket refunds

New rules will mean that from 2 April the maximum fee that train operators and ticket retailers can charge...

More like this...