Atkins and UCL to launch new careers in rail

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Atkins’ UK Rail business has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University College London to launch a new MSc in Rail Integrated Design Management.

The course, which will be taught by Atkins and accredited by UCL, will further equip design leaders and technical managers with the skills to manage large, multi-disciplinary engineering design projects and to work effectively with their stakeholders.

The MoU was signed by UCL Vice Provost Professor Michael Worton, Dean of Engineering Sciences Professor Anthony Finkelstein, UK Managing Director David Tonkin, and Mark Cowlard, Managing Director of the Rail Solutions business.

The programme was developed by Rail’s Engineering Management Development Programme (EMDP) team to address the industry’s demand for truly integrated solutions; in terms of both internal design delivery and overall infrastructure integrity.

Students will gain the advanced skills required to integrate complex and high-risk multi-functional designs, working to eliminate stretched resources, programme re-working and poor client satisfaction.

Rail Solutions MD Mark Cowlard outlined the programme’s benefits, ‘With the pace of change within our sector it is essential that we respond and adapt to continue to provide the services our customers want from us. This collaboration with UCL is critical in supporting this.

‘I believe we are together leading the industry in investing in our engineers to give confidence to our customers that we can deliver integrated and assured design in the multifunctional world in which we all now work.’

In its initial year, the course will be open to applications from Atkins’ UK staff – with teaching expected to begin in September 2012.

In 2013 Atkins hopes to open up applications to its international staff and the wider rail industry. Upon completion of the course, students will gain an industry-recognised qualification for their focused knowledge of and skills in effectively managing multi-disciplinary engineering design.

Professor Anthony Finkelstein commented: ‘UCL Engineering is very excited about our partnership with Atkins. We share a commitment to engineering excellence and in particular a commitment to addressing the complexities of the development of complex engineering infrastructure through, research, education and knowledge transfer.

‘We expect that this programme will develop engineering leaders with the skills and knowledge to deliver engineering innovation in a complex industry context.’

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