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profit from learning
Page 126
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by George Wilmot Senior lecturer in transport studies. University of London
New look for CIT final examinations
The new final examination of the Chartered Institute of Transport which will first be introduced in May 1973, represents a fundamental break with the past. It is abundantly clear that the Chartered Institute has thought hard about, and taken heed of the criticisms concerning previous examination subjects. A scheme has been produced which is up to date, and has a desirable degree of flexibility; there are strong attempts made to link the scheme with other awards in transport education and, above all, it is constructed as a professional management qualification in transport. On the last point it should be noted that the award of corporate membership (MCIT) does not automatically follow the passing of the final examination unless it is coupled with "relevant experience and practice in transport at the appropriate level".
There is also a heartening shift of emphasis towards road transport. The examination structure for the finals is really in three parts: (a) a general paper entitled The Control and Organization of Transport, which is compulsory to all candidates; (b) eight papers dealing systematically with each mode of transport; and (c) a group of seven subjects, curiously called "discipline" papers, which include management accounts, industrial relations in transport, planning relative to transport, quantitative method and the transport aspects of economics, sociology and technology. Eight papers must be taken from the 16 options with the only condition (apart from the compulsory subject) being that candidates must sit at least one but not more than three subjects from the "modal" section. Thus the "discipline" group of subjects take on an important role since at least four of these must be prepared as a minimum.
There are three "model" papers affecting road transport. Road freight and road passenger are separate papers but, in addition, physical distribution management (PDM) is included. This marks the first time the subject has really penetrated into the Institute's examinations. Own-account operators will find the course of real practical value with the guideline syllabus containing an important section which analyses the advantages and disadvantages of using different modes of transport including the old problem of hiring, leasing and owning vehicles. Appended to the scheme is a very full and most modern reading list.
Another completely new and welcome departure is the technology paper. For some time I have persistently argued that the institutes primarily concerned with the operating and management aspects of transport should at least include some appreciation of developments in transport technology and of the basic problems facing the transport engineer. In the same way. I have advocated that the Institute of Road Transport Engineers should embrace more management subjects together with economics and statistics in its final examinations. It is most interesting to see that the syllabus for this CIT paper is very similar to that of the IRTE Section C, part II.
Another interesting feature is the way in which the CIT are showing clear signs of moving away from the concept of laying down an examination scheme of study and then letting the matter rest. The CIT intends to go out of its way to emphasize the importance of links with the industry and with colleges. The Institute is keen to give advice on how the new scheme can dovetail with training schemes of individual firms or with the special needs of individual colleges.
Without wishing in any way to detract from my whole-hearted welcome to the new scheme, there are some complicating factors inevitably arising, which I propose to review next week.