Southeastern, a leading railway firm, has announced a new partnership with the University aimed at enhancing curriculum design and providing support for students. This collaboration, formalized earlier this spring, is specifically aimed at creating new mentorship opportunities and designing custom training programs for Southeastern’s staff. Through better alignment of their resources, the two organizations are seeking to tackle the skills challenges confronting the industry and promote continued professional development.
Steve Foster, People and Culture Director at Southeastern, stated that they were excited about the partnership. He noted the importance of this partnership in growing talent in the region. As part of the effort, the initiative is focused on improving the experience of Southeastern employees, while developing hands-on experiences for the students at the university.
“This collaboration presents an excellent opportunity to identify and develop initiatives that benefit both organisations and our wider region.” – Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University.
The collaboration provides post-secondary students an authentic learning experience in the railway industry. This opportunity complements their experience and makes them better equipped for a seamless transition from the classroom to the workforce. This important initiative will increase the employability of TTI graduates. It gives them important hands-on experiences to prepare them for how the railway industry works.
Beyond student impact, the partnership further highlights the value of continuous professional development for Southeastern personnel. Southeastern tailors regional training opportunities to align with the unique workforce needs of its diverse Southeastern workforce. This winning strategy continues to make the team competitive in a fast-changing industry environment.
Foster highlighted the transformative potential of the collaboration, stating, “By working together, we can create opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in the rail sector while providing access to learning and development opportunities.” This proclamation emphasizes the educational and workforce development orientation of the partnership’s work.
The collaboration promises to have a profound impact on Southeastern and the University. Working together on curriculum development and training programs, both organizations expect to create and develop a positive ripple effect throughout the community. Bridging the gap between academic learning and workforce requirements aims to develop a skilled labor force ready to face the challenges ahead.
