IGNOU & IRT Rail Transport Management Programmes

Indira Gandhi National Open University-IGNOU & Institute of Rail Transport-IRT to launch new programme in Rail Transport Management

Indira Gandhi National Open University recently signed a broad perspective MoU with Institute of Rail Transport (IRT) to develop a gross framework of training and academic collaboration. The principal objectives are to develop high quality educative programmes of international standard in rail transport management.

The MoU was signed by Dr US Tolia, Registrar of IGNOU and Dr AP Ramanan, Executive Director of IRT. The MoU envisages that appropriate mechanisms will evolved for effective generation of skilled officials in management of the complex world of rail transport, relative application of ICTs, ports, containers, logistics management and many other associated training and education. A slew of academic programmes in various levels from short-term trainings to Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Research programmes will be offered at all IRT study centres spread across the country along the railways with a view to democratising employment-oriented education and training.

IRT has trusted training culture in rail transport management over decades. It has institutes in all corners of the country. It runs four dedicated training cum education programmes in the rail transport domain. Boosted by IGNOU’s expertise and distance education pedagogy and supported by IGNOU certification, IRT hopes to hone its students’ skills further.

IGNOU’s Centre for Corporate Education, Training and Consultancy (CCET&C), which will join the IRT experts in the Joint Coordination Committee to develop the framework, will introduce the university’s assignment components for continuous learning inputs, evolve and set up study centre concept suitable to IRT context and introduce the latest ICTs in the pedagogy. IGNOU will define criteria of admission, finalise the registration processes with the IRT, design courses, delivery of training and education, review mechanism, redesign IRT’s existing courses suitable for certification and develop effective students support network using the IRT facilities across the Indian railways.

The IRT will bear the entire cost of the project. It will identify experts in rail transport and develop materials for training. The IRT will also identify study centres where the courses would be run, appoint coordinators, at all training centres, identify training areas, pay consultancy fees to faculty, appoint exclusive consultancy at CCET&C and also financially support at least two Research Assistants for their PhDs.

The broad framework is likely to generate a good number of skilled handlers and experts in rail transport areas