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IRO makes Qualifications Affordable

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The IRO aims to make its qualifications more easily affordable for the rail industry.

The 2012/13 prices have now been agreed by the IRO Board. The aim is to continue to provide access to learning to all railway operators at any stage of their career.

The three qualifications the IRO offers are each worth 120 credits each. Altogether they form 360 credits which is the number of credits needed for a degree to be awarded.

The Certificate of Higher Education is aimed at people who might have left school at 16 and not really done much formal education since. Much has been done to make sure that more people can take the step towards gaining a qualification at this level.

Measures include:

• Clarifying the entry requirements so that people can be more confident about getting on the course by writing up their work experience rather than worrying about their academic results of years ago.

• Substantially reducing the price. For a limited time the certificate course will be £2,500+VAT  instead of last year when it was £4,400. On the zero interest payment plan offered to self funding students there is an initial deposit of £1500 after which the monthly payment is just £100. The IRO has also made the registration and application process easier.

‘The Board is very committed to increasing access to learning to railway people at all stages of their career. We do not want price to be a barrier to anyone,’ said Fiona Tordoff CEO.

‘The Certificate is a great way to get back into learning and the IRO staff and tutors offer support throughout.’

She recommends anyone with even a passing interest to call the IRO or register online at www.railwayoperators.co.uk/register

‘When people return to learning it can be quite daunting. We are really keen to help people over the barriers that can seem very big at the beginning.’

The cost of an IRO distance learning degree (360 credits worth) is £13,860 which is £1140 less than an English Open University charge. The IRO charges of circa £3,000 per annum for diploma and degree level qualifications obviously compares very favourably with the full time study equivalents many of which cost £9,000 per annum.

The Institution of Railway Operators is now widely recognised as the organisation of choice for those seeking to develop their career within the rail sector.

Membership of the IRO opens the door to a wealth of professional expertise, networking opportunities and access to a programme of courses, tailored specifically to the needs of the industry.

Delivered in conjunction with leading education provider, Glasgow Caledonian University, the IRO’s Professional Development Programme provides nationally recognised qualifications, from Certificate through to Degree level.

Courses are delivered through a tried and trusted combination of distance learning and direct tutorials from leading professionals within the rail sector.

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