For the transport and logistics sector, the talent crisis is no longer a problem of the future:
- Around the world, populations are ageing: developed countries will face a smaller percentage of active working population and in developing countries economic growth is already outpacing talent development, leading to serious skills shortage.
- Transportation and logistics companies, including rail, will find it increasingly difficult to employ workers with the needed skills, in the right place, at the right time.
- Strategies for managing talent are now on top of the CEO agenda: in a recent survey by PwC, 66% of CEOs say that a lack of the right skills is their biggest talent challenge.
At a time of high unemployment in many parts of the world, this might seem as a contradiction, but in many sectors, including transportation and logistics and rail, there exist worrisome skills mismatches. For the transport and logistics sector, the talent crisis is no longer a problem of the future. It is a problem we are facing today.
To address those challenges, the UIC aims to set-up a ‘Global Network of Railway Talents’. Through the provision of a common platform, the UIC wishes to extend the innovation capacity of the railway sector and to improve the sector’s competitiveness by using the potential of its talents. The TALENT project is targeting key talent pools such as the millennial generation, experienced workers, and other sources of talent.
- Development of an efficient management development programme to prepare a new generation of railway talents working on domestic and international challenges.
- Creation of a strong & sustainable foundation for fostering international cooperation amongst the young talents in the railway sector.
- Promotion of prospective careers in the railway sector.
- Attractiveness: better support the development of railway talents and their integration into the labour market through better cooperation between the different stakeholders of the railway community;
- Creativity: support, promote and reward innovative ideas, projects and collaborative working approaches developed by young talents with benefits for the rail sector;
- Performance: explore the innovative potential of the rail sector which operates in a challenging environment with growing demand for sustainable transport while facing strong financial constraints particularly in times of financial crisis;
- Responsibility: assure the knowledge transfer to a new generation of railway managers and engineers and boost the railway skills of young talents;
- Openness: set-up new partnerships with stakeholders from other sectors in order to mutually benefit from existing knowledge, skills and experiences.
In order to understand the needs and expectations in terms of content, functionalities and management of the UIC Network of Railway Talents a stakeholder survey was conducted in 2013. As a result of this the online platform was created.
It addressed a wide audience of project stakeholders, in particular with future users of the platform.
Through this platform UIC wishes to engage an active dialogue and support across the rail sector. The platform acts as a powerful tool for international collaboration in various fields within the rail sector.
- Exchanging knowledge, skills and experiences with international peers;
- Sharing of success stories, management practices, articles, videos, blogs, presentations;
- Running ‘innovation challenges’;
- Engaging with different stakeholders (railway members, industry partners, universities or individual members...).
- Access to information and resources relevant to the railway sector , including international rail training and education opportunities, prospective careers in the railway industry, as well as forthcoming TALENT events;
- International and multidisciplinary networking opportunities, involving academia, railway professionals, industry, research, training, HR...
Rail Talents is the platform for:
- Exchanging experiences, knowledge, success stories and management practices with international peers;
- Publishing and reading of articles, videos, blogs, presentations;
- Developing competencies and expertise;
- Engaging with a wide range stakeholders: railway professionals, industry partners, universities, etc.
COPYRIGHT 2018 RAILWAY TALENTS
