https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Inspiring the next generation in the Rail Industry

6th August 2014

  

Font size: - +

This article has been supplied as a media statement and is not written by Creamer Media. It may be available only for a limited time on this website.

D3  (0.09 MB)

The recently awarded contracts within the rail industry, will in the next five to ten years place tremendous pressure on the skills requirements within this sector in South Africa.  Whilst much is being done to promote maths and science as well as technology, during and after matric, there is a profound need to promote careers and industry at a high school level. D3, earlier this year launched a programme called “Discover your Career” with specific emphasis being placed on key areas within the economy.

On Tuesday,5 August,  D3 held their first “Discover your career in Rail” industry initiative at Oosrand Secondary School, Reiger Park, Boksburg.  This initiative aims to address the scarce skills we face in this industry.  This is an entry point to our youth to attract the next “Rail” generation. “It is with these industry initiatives that we are able to create awareness about companies and opportunities within the rail sector and we look forward to growing the next generation of rail employees. Secondary Schools in Greater Gauteng will be targeted to create excitement and interest in the learners to follow a career in the Rail Industry.”  Says Lara Slogrove, MD of D3. The event was made possible through the participation of both Transnet Freight Rail and Bombardier Transportation.

Transnet Freight Rail is the largest Operating Division of Transnet SOC Ltd.  TFR is a world-class freight transport company transporting bulk; break bulk and containerized freight on a rail network of approximately 20 500km.  They have internationally acclaimed heavy haul lines covering 1 500km, which is used for coal and iron ore exports.  Transnet Freight Rail has awarded a number of new locomotives to be manufactured locally by Bombardier Transportation.

Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. BOMBARDIER ECO4 technologies – built on the four cornerstones of energy, efficiency, economy and ecology – conserve energy, protect the environment and help to improve total train performance. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and has a very diverse customer base with products or services in more than 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide. Industry leaders and professionals shared their stories about their career growth and development, which opened the minds of the learners to new and exciting careers in Rail.

Enos Marobane started his career at Transnet Freight Rail in December of 2009 and is now a Communication Specialist, after receiving his BA Media Studies at the University of Limpopo.  Enos says that working for a big organisation such as Transnet was a real challenge; however his reward is when he can make a difference to young people’s lives by providing them with career guidance in the Rail Sector.  Enos also spoke to the learners about Railway Safely Awareness, as the school is in close proximity to level crossings. Dobri Makhubela, from Bombardier Transportation shared his career path in the legal and compliance field.  He has 20 years of work experience, ranging from government office through to a number of successful large corporates in South Africa. 

Dobri obtained his LLB Degree (Law) at the University of Limpopo in South Africa. The highlights of his career have been protecting the interest of the Company by ensuring contractual compliance; and working in offensive and defensive claims.  He also says that coming into a project environment had its own set of challenges.  He had to understanding the project environment, which included, project management principles and understanding the format of terms and conditions used internationally.

Jonas Karlsson, a project manager at Bombardier Transportation completed his Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Management at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and has been with Bombardier since 2010. 

It is with no surprise that Jonas insists on very good grades in maths and science to follow this career path.  Jonas says, “I am currently living the highlight of my career by moving to South Africa from Sweden and working on the locomotive business awarded to Bombardier by Transnet Freight Rail”.  He also commented that a big challenge for him is the complexities of working in a multinational company over country and functional borders. The event was well received by the learners and a significant number of them registering their career interests onto the D3 database.  These learners, should we have the corporate support, will be further developed to take the next step in following their career path within the rail industry. “It is with these industry initiatives that we are able to create awareness about companies and opportunities within the rail sector and we look forward to growing the next generation of rail employees.”  Says Lara Slogrove, MD of D3.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Multotec
Multotec

Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.082 0.133s - 158pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now