Business profile
diploma and a post-graduate certificate. It is also possible to attend one-week modules as part of a programme of continuing professional development. The structure with intensive modules allows for part- time study over several years. Birmingham primarily provides the railway specific content with a risk and safety focus while York delivers material specifically related to risk and safety management. The taught modules are:
• railway operations and control systems design
• strategic business management for railways
• railway traction systems design and traction supplies
• safety and risk management in the system development process
• rolling stock and infrastructure systems interactions
• safety management systems and their development
• systems engineering and ergonomics for dependable operations
• computer and safety in critical systems through life safety management
University staff and high profile industry
experts provide the teaching on the modules, ensuring both academic rigour and industrial relevance.
In December 2013, the first five taught
modules of the pilot programme were completed by the first cohort. Practical excursions supplemented the learning through hands-on experience. For example, in September the students were able to replace worn-out track, involving the change
of timber sleepers, ballast and re-installing the rails on new sleepers, all taking place at a heritage railway. This weekend was particularly useful for students, who had no or little railway experience before entering the programme.
European study tour
A further practical part will be the European study tour, where the students, accompanied by staff, will visit several railway facilities in other countries to acquire knowledge about the distinct and different approaches to railway operations, construction, and risk and safety management. Students come from all over the world,
including China and the UK. Several students already have railway experience and currently work in the industry while others have no prior experience. The programme is probably best described through students’ comments: “I am learning a lot in the programme and like the practical content.”
(Chinese masters student from Shanghai) “After spending 22 years in military engineering, I have little to no experience of the railway industry. To that end, I found the modules incredibly useful. They gave me a holistic understanding of railway systems which I believe would have taken me many years to achieve otherwise.”
CPD participant from Britain.•
Further information about the programme is available at
www.railway.bham.ac.uk or can be obtained from the administrator, Francesca Frascina (
f.frascina@
bham.ac.uk). Authors: Professor Felix Schmid & Dr. Andreas Hoffrichter
February 2014 Page 133
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