Incident Controller, Saleem Ali graduates from his BSc with a Distinction!

Saleem Ali, Incident Controller at Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre for Network Rail, graduated from his BSc degree in Railway Operations Management with a Distinction in November 2021.

As a full-time employee, Saleem completed his qualification through CIRO and Glasgow Caledonian University.

The two-year course, originally to be delivered in person, was adapted in response to the pandemic, and so all lectures and meetings with tutors were online via video conferencing software.

“CIRO’s tutors did a really good job adjusting to the situation and provided a quality learning experience, despite the challenges in 2020.”

Saleem was supplied with a core text and full days’ lectures across all ten modules of his degree. In particular, Saleem valued that the assignments were purely coursework-based which meant he was able to manage his own time around his employment commitments to complete the qualification.

He commented: “I was also able to virtually meet people that had backgrounds in different niche sectors within the rail industry such as Rail Economics.

“Unless you already have experience in these sectors, you wouldn’t have the insights or understanding of each niche. The degree gave me the opportunity that I wouldn’t usually have to compare responsibilities with individuals from the rail industry all over the world.”

William Barter, Saleem’s Railway Economics module tutor, was successful in making it enjoyable through his enthusiasm and engaging lectures.

Saleem said: “I’m very lucky to have the tutors that I did as they made the course intriguing even though it was online-based.”

For Saleem, the Safety Law and Emergency Planning modules stood out as they aligned with his interests and job role at Network Rail. This allowed him to apply the knowledge gained from his degree to real-life skills.

The Incident Controller aspires to develop his rail operations expertise to become a Route Control Manager. He said: “I’m definitely considering further education through CIRO and hope to complete a Master of Business Administration in Railway Management.

“CIRO have been super helpful, especially Adam Fenton and his team. They’ve assisted me throughout the qualification and are still on hand if I need any external support.

“I thoroughly recommend CIRO to anyone looking to pursue qualifications alongside their employment. I learnt a great deal and I’m looking forward to applying the expertise throughout my career.”

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Railway Operations Management is designed to provide you with the opportunity to gain a high level of understanding in a range of railway operations disciplines. It will challenge you to think outside of your day-to-day role and embrace the latest railway operations know-how.

Our hand-picked industry professionals will guide you throughout several modules that reflect the breadth of knowledge required of tomorrow’s industry leaders. To find out if this is for you, visit our course page or contact learning@railwayoperators.co.uk.