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A timely reminder from Bromsgrove College

15th January 1971
Page 84
Page 84, 15th January 1971 — A timely reminder from Bromsgrove College
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

BROMSGROVE College of Further Education is strongly developing road transport studies in the West Midland region. The College's School of Road Transport Studies, set up to provide a comprehensive range of courses for the industry, is making significant strides towards this goal.

The fostering of a Diploma course in road transport (mechanical) engineering, which is to be recognized by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers for its Associate Membership grade, is a welcome development. The course, which can be taken either as a "block" or a ,"sandwich" release type, covers both theory and practice and the scheme of study has been made very flexible. Although the college is stronger on the engineering side, law, economics and traffic operating subjects have recently been augmented so that the School of Road Trans

port can reflect all facets of the industry.

The college is also well aware of the danger of the School becoming too theoretical and recognizes the importance of a close liaison with the transport industry. But liaison must be on the spot, and with this end in view, the committee of the school is arranging a number. of field visits to road transport plants and depots in the West Midland district. The photograph shows specialized lecturers on a recent visit to Autocar and Transporters Ltd, at Wythall, near Birmingham. At this 45-acre site, the function of the company as a link between the motor manufacturer and its distributors was explained before the lecturers went on tour to the new administrative block. This block controls the movement of cars from manufacturer to dealer and also deals with routeing and scheduling of the drivers. A tour of the workshops was of

great interest as these new 1970 premises incorporated the latest types of equipment.

It is too easy in transport education to neglect the importance of getting out and seeing the industry. Many teachers become involved in theoretical concepts and forget that the subject of their teaching is a highly practical and constantly changing industry. Even those keen to see as much as possible on the spot tend to rely too much on past situations and omit to do the necessary updating.

Visits are also a vital necessity for students taking transport examinations leading to professional qualifications. Even the best lecturer with a host of well-selected visual aids at his disposal cannot replace the wellchosen and well-prepared visit to a transport organization. Visits give scale, perspective and arouse interest in studies. They should also whet the appetite for further study in the particular subject of the visit.

One of the impressive features of the City of London Polytechnic's degree in business studies with transport option is the amount of time spent on actual visits and on the job in transport undertakings. But not many transport courses have on-the-spot visits built into the fabric of the course. In spite of the administrative difficulties involved, I believe that much more effort should be placed on making field visits much more common than at present.

Admittedly, professional institutes, through their local sections. arrange an attractive programme of visits, including road transport installations. These are most valuable but they are not necessarily connected with a particular course of study and in a particular year there may not be a visit relevant to a course of study in the area. Local centres should try to liaise with the colleges in their area to see if a programme of visits can be tailored to the specific needs of individual transport classes.

On-the-spot visits must always be the lifeblood of transport study. Bromsgrove's example is a timely reminder of their value and importance.


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