<![CDATA[IRSE Exam Forum - Getting a Sponsor]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:26:18 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Sponsorship in the new world]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2428 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:57:35 +0000 Peter]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2428 IRSE announced, to take Module A, you do not need a sponsor and if you have taken Module A, the FAQ section says that you do not need to have a sponsor to apply for the other modules.

Quote:Do I need to find a sponsor and complete a sponsor declaration form?  Module A “fundamentals of railway control engineering” will not require a sponsor and it will be a pre-requisite for taking the other 3 new modules.  Sponsorship will remain in place for taking modules 1-7 in 2020,  Pre-qualification for taking advanced modules B, C or D by means of passing module A in 2021 will not be required for anyone who has at least one pass in a current module, but sponsorship may still be needed.

It looks as though you can also qualify to enter the other advanced modules if you have not taken Module A but have already passed one of the old modules (1-7), however, it has the statement at the end that "sponsorship may still be needed". I cannot find any further information on what the conditions are that "may" need sponsorship, so if you are in the position of qualifying to take new modules on the strength of already passings some old modules, I would advise that you check with the exam office to make sure that you sort out sponsorship in good time if they say you need it,]]> IRSE announced, to take Module A, you do not need a sponsor and if you have taken Module A, the FAQ section says that you do not need to have a sponsor to apply for the other modules.

Quote:Do I need to find a sponsor and complete a sponsor declaration form?  Module A “fundamentals of railway control engineering” will not require a sponsor and it will be a pre-requisite for taking the other 3 new modules.  Sponsorship will remain in place for taking modules 1-7 in 2020,  Pre-qualification for taking advanced modules B, C or D by means of passing module A in 2021 will not be required for anyone who has at least one pass in a current module, but sponsorship may still be needed.

It looks as though you can also qualify to enter the other advanced modules if you have not taken Module A but have already passed one of the old modules (1-7), however, it has the statement at the end that "sponsorship may still be needed". I cannot find any further information on what the conditions are that "may" need sponsorship, so if you are in the position of qualifying to take new modules on the strength of already passings some old modules, I would advise that you check with the exam office to make sure that you sort out sponsorship in good time if they say you need it,]]> <![CDATA[Finding a sponsor]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2261 Sun, 18 Feb 2018 13:30:09 +0000 PJW]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2261
It is clearly an advantage if:
  1. they know you- your attitude, character, knowledge, experience, aptitude for learning
  2. they are familiar with the IRSE Exam (many will not be, certainly not in its current form)
  3. they are within you line management chain so have some form of influence within the allocation of workload, provision of training and other support,
  4. they are accessible to you- you feel you can approach, ideally work sufficiently close that you can readily have a conversation when required.
The main problems seem to be:
  • that many prospective candidates may not work in a role where their line managers are F/MIRSE,
  • there is no easy way of finding out if those other people that they know are F/MIRSE,
  • certain people get a disproportional number of requests to act as sponsor which can overload them and thus detract from the extent they can support and also they receive requests from those where items 1-4 above do not apply.
The local IRSE sections could potentially do more to support students and prospective candidates.  However this doesn't seem to work for several reasons:
  • not many students / candidates attend these meetings,
  • not many of the established F/MIRSE are proactive in engaging such people in conversations over refreshments before / after such meetings.  This is perhaps understandable as they have their own social circle and people to take the chance to catch-up with at such informal gatherings to have conversations that would be much more difficult in a supplier / contractor / client / competitor environment.
I have always realised that the sponsor system could create difficulties in certain small companies (although conversely some of these are actually some of the best and easiest places to get support) and in the Indian sub-contractor companies for example, but n 2018 it has really struck home to me that it is a far wider problem within the industry as a whole.

It would be interesting to hear of the "trials and tribulations" of trying to find a sponsor from people who are currently facing this challenge or have recently overcome it]]>
It is clearly an advantage if:
  1. they know you- your attitude, character, knowledge, experience, aptitude for learning
  2. they are familiar with the IRSE Exam (many will not be, certainly not in its current form)
  3. they are within you line management chain so have some form of influence within the allocation of workload, provision of training and other support,
  4. they are accessible to you- you feel you can approach, ideally work sufficiently close that you can readily have a conversation when required.
The main problems seem to be:
  • that many prospective candidates may not work in a role where their line managers are F/MIRSE,
  • there is no easy way of finding out if those other people that they know are F/MIRSE,
  • certain people get a disproportional number of requests to act as sponsor which can overload them and thus detract from the extent they can support and also they receive requests from those where items 1-4 above do not apply.
The local IRSE sections could potentially do more to support students and prospective candidates.  However this doesn't seem to work for several reasons:
  • not many students / candidates attend these meetings,
  • not many of the established F/MIRSE are proactive in engaging such people in conversations over refreshments before / after such meetings.  This is perhaps understandable as they have their own social circle and people to take the chance to catch-up with at such informal gatherings to have conversations that would be much more difficult in a supplier / contractor / client / competitor environment.
I have always realised that the sponsor system could create difficulties in certain small companies (although conversely some of these are actually some of the best and easiest places to get support) and in the Indian sub-contractor companies for example, but n 2018 it has really struck home to me that it is a far wider problem within the industry as a whole.

It would be interesting to hear of the "trials and tribulations" of trying to find a sponsor from people who are currently facing this challenge or have recently overcome it]]> <![CDATA[Finding a sponsor]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2260 Sun, 18 Feb 2018 13:30:04 +0000 PJW]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2260
It is clearly an advantage if:
  1. they know you- your attitude, character, knowledge, experience, aptitude for learning
  2. they are familiar with the IRSE Exam (many will not be, certainly not in its current form)
  3. they are within you line management chain so have some form of influence within the allocation of workload, provision of training and other support,
  4. they are accessible to you- you feel you can approach, ideally work sufficiently close that you can readily have a conversation when required.
The main problems seem to be:
  • that many prospective candidates may not work in a role where their line managers are F/MIRSE,
  • there is no easy way of finding out if those other people that they know are F/MIRSE,
  • certain people get a disproportional number of requests to act as sponsor which can overload them and thus detract from the extent they can support and also they receive requests from those where items 1-4 above do not apply.
The local IRSE sections could potentially do more to support students and prospective candidates.  However this doesn't seem to work for several reasons:
  • not many students / candidates attend these meetings,
  • not many of the established F/MIRSE are proactive in engaging such people in conversations over refreshments before / after such meetings.  This is perhaps understandable as they have their own social circle and people to take the chance to catch-up with at such informal gatherings to have conversations that would be much more difficult in a supplier / contractor / client / competitor environment.
I have always realised that the sponsor system could create difficulties in certain small companies (although conversely some of these are actually some of the best and easiest places to get support) and in the Indian sub-contractor companies for example, but n 2018 it has really struck home to me that it is a far wider problem within the industry as a whole.

It would be interesting to hear of the "trials and tribulations" of trying to find a sponsor from people who are currently facing this challenge or have recently overcome it]]>
It is clearly an advantage if:
  1. they know you- your attitude, character, knowledge, experience, aptitude for learning
  2. they are familiar with the IRSE Exam (many will not be, certainly not in its current form)
  3. they are within you line management chain so have some form of influence within the allocation of workload, provision of training and other support,
  4. they are accessible to you- you feel you can approach, ideally work sufficiently close that you can readily have a conversation when required.
The main problems seem to be:
  • that many prospective candidates may not work in a role where their line managers are F/MIRSE,
  • there is no easy way of finding out if those other people that they know are F/MIRSE,
  • certain people get a disproportional number of requests to act as sponsor which can overload them and thus detract from the extent they can support and also they receive requests from those where items 1-4 above do not apply.
The local IRSE sections could potentially do more to support students and prospective candidates.  However this doesn't seem to work for several reasons:
  • not many students / candidates attend these meetings,
  • not many of the established F/MIRSE are proactive in engaging such people in conversations over refreshments before / after such meetings.  This is perhaps understandable as they have their own social circle and people to take the chance to catch-up with at such informal gatherings to have conversations that would be much more difficult in a supplier / contractor / client / competitor environment.
I have always realised that the sponsor system could create difficulties in certain small companies (although conversely some of these are actually some of the best and easiest places to get support) and in the Indian sub-contractor companies for example, but n 2018 it has really struck home to me that it is a far wider problem within the industry as a whole.

It would be interesting to hear of the "trials and tribulations" of trying to find a sponsor from people who are currently facing this challenge or have recently overcome it]]>