Class of 2008 graduates with honours
IRO students donned caps and gowns to receive their BSc degrees and diplomas at Glasgow Caledonian University’s (GCU) summer graduation ceremony.
At the event, held in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, GCU’s Chancellor Lord Macdonald of Tradeston presented 22 IRO graduates, who began the IRO Degree and diploma courses in 2008, with their BSc Degrees and diploma of higher education Railway Operational Management. The ceremony was followed by a reception sponsored by Freightliner.
IRO Chief Executive Fiona Tordoff said: “Congratulations to our latest batch of graduates. Their achievement is a fantastic display of hard work and commitment and we are all very proud of our association with them. We look forward to a continued relationship with them as we grow our tutor and mentor base at the Institution and we wish them continued success in their careers.”
The aim of the IRO is to provide its students with a broad understanding of the rail industry at all levels, help them develop a variety of skills to allow them a greater degree of flexibility as they build their careers, no matter what level they are at within the industry.
Tricia Meade, the IRO’s Learning and Development Manager, said: “Our graduates have worked long and hard to attain their qualifications, which are recognised as a top qualifications across the railway industry. Their new qualifications will be of huge benefit to them throughout their careers.”
IRO students and graduates are drawn from all age groups and levels of responsibility across the industry.
For one graduating IRO student, Martin Bonnington, 26, who is currently a Train Service Controller – High Speed Services at First Great Western, the IRO degree course came as part of his employer’s Railway Operations Management Training Scheme.
He said: “Although the three-year course could be tough going particularly at times such as starting a new job and moving home it was well worth all the effort. The IRO has put a great deal into organising and running its educational programme and making the qualifications recognised across the industry. The course has significantly added to my background knowledge of how the industry works.”
Brian Barry, 46, Operations Assurance Manager with Rail for London, joined the industry after a seven years service with the Royal Engineers disarming bombs and shells during and following conflicts across the world, including the first Gulf war. As a father of four he says finding the time to complete the course modules had been “quite tricky” at times!
He said: “When I started my current job I soon realised the IRO course would be a big benefit to me in my new role, as well as in my career generally. I never had the chance of going to University as I joined the Army soon after leaving school, so I was keen to grab this opportunity. As a result I now have much more confidence and I am in no doubt the BSc will significantly help my future progress.”
This summer’s graduation event, the IRO’s seventh such ceremony, brought the total number of students who have successfully completed IRO courses held under the Institution’s Professional Development Programme to 156.
Launched in 2005, the programme includes the BSc Degree, Diploma of Higher Education and Certificate of Higher Education courses that have now seen 62 students gain the degree, 69 students gain the IRO Diploma and 25 the IRO Certificate.
The next set of IRO Degree, Diploma and Certificate courses are due to commence in October 2011, enrolment is still open but places are limited.
For more information or to enrol on any of the courses, visit the IRO website: www.railwayoperators.org
Published: 15/07/2011
