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profit from learning
Page 92
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A transport diploma in management studies
WITH the great advance in management education in so many fields, the need for nationally recognized qualification has become of increased importance. A special committee formed by the Department of Education and Science evolved the formula of a national award entitled Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) to be organized at polytechnics. Among the guidelines laid down is that all candidates must have business experience at an acceptable level. Ideally, those applying should be over 24 years of age, possess either a degree or a Higher National Diploma /Certificate or hold a professional qualification. There is also opportunity for those over 27 with at least four years of management experience.
The DMS is looked upon as a management development scheme for the training of middle and senior management which fills quite a gap in that so many management development schemes are basically concerned with junior management. Further, the accent is on a practical rather than an academic syllabus with project work, case studies and oral examinations being the main ingredients of the course.
There has been a great deal of controversy as to the nature of these courses. Should there be one syllabus in general management studies taken by everyone or more specialized diplomas relating to specific industries and activities? For road transport, I have always believed that management training, while having certain subjects of general application, must have specific studies relating to the industry if courses are to have practical value. Happily, it was finally decided that the DMS could be arranged either as a general diploma or applied to specific careers.
I am happy to say that the first DMS in Transport is due to begin at the North London Polytechnic next January. It will be geared specifically to the needs of the public haulier and own-account operator, and it is hoped the course will consist of 25 members. This marks the outcome of a good deal of hard work and planning by the transport section of the Polytechnic. A two-year course will be run on a block-release basis with 16 weeks full time (one week in residence). The 15 weeks non-residence will be broken into three groups of five weeks and the residential course will be based in England in the first year but within the focal transport sector of the Rotterdam /Amsterdam complex in the second.
The first year has three special transport subjects: (a) economics and control; (b) operation and the law; and (c) problems solving. The other four subjects in management are common to all diploma courses whatever the speciality. They are: (a) concepts and function of management; (b) finance and economics; (c) quantitative techniques; and (d) human aspects. A written examination decides whether the step from the first year to the second can be taken but "continuous assessment" (to borrow that hackneyed educational phrase) is conducted throughout the course in relation to student essays and small projects.
The second year is refreshing since the award of a DMS in Transport is based on work in a practical project (under supervision), written papers on case studies, other work performed during the year, and oral examinations. There are no formal written papers involving a number of questions to be written within a specific time limit.
This DMS in Transport could be the highest standard qualification in practical transport management. To make certain that the standards are right, each DMS course has two external examiners and the Polytechnic have chosen two examiners of very wide experience of transport and degree examinations. These are joined by the third assessor who makes certain that the transport DMS is of the same national standard as other diplomas in a wide variety of disciplines.