A solid Foundation for a career in Rail Engineering

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A solid Foundation for a career in Rail Engineering
An overview of the foundation degree and how the rail industry have used the opportunity to structure a course that meets the engineering needs of the industry. Network Rail Since taking over control of the nation's rail infrastructure 18 months ago, Network Rail has embarked on a major programme of works to reverse years of under investment. It is currently carrying out a major restructuring to ensure change can be driven through more effectively and new, world-leading technology is being introduced into the UK
To enable these changes and improvements to be implemented the most important ingredient is engineers. It is estimated that to carry out the projected workload over 600 new engineers and technicians are required every year- a resource in which the rail industry is already in short supply . In a major move to address these shortages Network Rail has been instrumental in the setting up of the nation's first Foundation Degree in Railway Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. Foundation Degrees The benefits of combining both working and learning experiences in the development of engineers have long been understood. This vocational approach has recently been applied to higher education in the form of Foundation Degrees. These new and innovative qualifications bring together employers and universities to design and deliver courses that target specific employment sectors. They provide the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in today's workplace. "The Railway Engineering Foundation Degree is aimed at producing professional engineers with the knowledge and know-how to meet the challenge the rail industry faces to deliver a safe, efficient and reliable railway infrastructure." Said Nigel Ward
Railway Engineering Foundation Degree
Network Rail together with Sheffield Hallam University and other industry partners have developed this course jointly with the organisations and employers who have responsibility for track renewals and maintenance. The course features an organised paid work placement in the rail industry. This gives you the opportunities to gain sponsorship and employment. If you are already working in the rail industry you may be able to gain credit for suitable work experience. Your placement will cover the period from April to August in each academic year. The course will provide the specific engineering skills required to work in the design, development and maintenance of the rail infrastructure network. Entry requirements for Full-time Study Normally you will need to provide evidence of the following qualifications from a relevant technical or science subject area. 80 points from at least one GCE/VCE A level or BTEC National Award and evidence of study of mathematics at advanced level (six points from pre-2002 A levels). GNVQ and BTEC qualifications are also acceptable. We encourage applications from people who have significant and direct experience of the rail industry but do not have any of the above academic qualifications (mature students). We judge each application on merit and look for the motivation and ability to complete the course successfully. Aside from this, students should normally have reached the age of 18 by 31 August in the year of entry.
Course Content There are three specialist routes through the course to reflect the structure of the industry. They are Signal engineering Civil and track engineering Electrical and mechanical engineering
This level of appreciation is key to the development of our future engineers as many of our engineering assets are situated in close proximity to each other and have to interact to allow the railway to function. In the first year students study all the basic engineering disciplines required across the industry.
Year one modules Rail specific engineering Mathematics and engineering science Industry project Legislative and business studies Industry placement In the second year students will specialise in an engineering discipline. There are three specialist routes through the course. They are signal engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering or civil and track engineering Year two modules Signal engineering modules Signal and telecommunications engineering principles Electronic, electrical and processor engineering Signal engineering applications Project and quality management Paid industry placement Civil and track engineering modules Track engineering Geotechnics and drainage Railway structures Project and quality management Paid industry placement Electrical and plant engineering modules Railway electrical engineering Electronic, electrical and processor engineering Railway mechanical engineering Project and quality management Paid industry placement In addition to these academic and practical sessions that will take place in the university, significant emphasis is placed on the value of work-based learning. An integral part of the course is the placement of students within the rail industry that provides opportunity for sponsorship and progression in to employment. Placements occur during each year and are 5 months in duration. During the first year this gives students the opportunity to appreciate the wider engineering functions and the role each plays in the overall maintenance and renewal processes that take place out on the track. In the second year students select an engineering discipline and concentrate on developing specific engineering and work place skills. Honours included After successful completion of the foundation degree students could be eligible to progress to a full honours degree which can be completed through a further 12 months of full-time study. "As an industry it is clear that there is a shortage of competent, hands on engineers. We sat down with our industry partners and looked at how we could address this. In developing this foundation degree we feel we have found a way to produce a mix of academic full time learning modules and workplace technical and management training with experiential learning opportunities that will really make a difference." says Ward. "It offers employers like Network Rail an opportunity to invest in the people who can help us engineer a future for Britain's railway that we can all be proud of." "It is a new way of learning that fits an industry need for practical, hands on engineers. It also provides an alternative to the student who doesn't want to undertake a purely academic course for three years" says Ward. He continues. "The Foundation Degree in Railway Engineering offers an opportunity to get your career in the rail industry on track" Applications and additional Information Network Rail, along with its industry partners, is currently looking at recruiting students to start the course this September. Students will receive payment for the time they are on work placements at a rate of £1000 per month. They will also be sponsored for the time they are studying at the Sheffield Hallam University. For information about the course, entry requirements and how to apply visit www.shu.ac.uk/courses/rail For more about Network Rail visit www.networkrail.co.uk For more information on Foundation Degrees visit www.foundationdegree.org.uk/ Nigel Ward Engineering Career Promotions Manager Network Rail
	©Network Rail