Rational of Rolling Stock Engineering
The undergraduate program of the School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering produces mechanical engineers with broad knowledge through its five-year programs. The program allows its students to gain a broad background such that they can fit in different industrial sectors, such as the manufacturing industry, power generation industry, service giving industry, and the like.
Obviously, the training given by the School must cope with the development that takes place in industries; the training must meet the high-level professional demand in the industry. That is, mechanical and industrial engineers with higher level of knowledge and skill than that of the B.Sc. are needed. This is why postgraduate training is needed in the Railway engineering field in the School.
Objectives of Rolling Stock Engineering Program
The main objective of this program is to fill the gap between the demands of the developing local transport sector, the expanding engineering and technical institutions and the capacity of mechanical engineers and other engineers related to railway engineering with the first degree from whom much cannot be expected in more complex analysis and design in the development of railway transportation system.
While meeting this national demand of transport industry, the program is also envisaged to fulfill the following objectives:
- To produce qualified engineers, managers and experts for railway industry. At present, the railway sector of the country is undergoing through extensive expansion and fast development, hence, more qualified/capable railway engineers in rolling stock are required. Thus, the school has given due attention to fulfill the demand of the industry.
- To actively participle in research and development endeavors which are beneficial to the Nation. The School involves in research activities, as much as possible, to be conducted to solve local industry problems. In addition, the involvement of the School in applied research can enhance the effort of various personnel who are engaged in adopting and modifying existing machinery as well as creating new ones in the railway sector.
Professional Profile of Rolling Stock Engineering
Railway Engineering is a profession that deals with management, economics and engineering fields of specializations such as power supply for electric traction, signaling and communications, design, manufacturing, operation, control and maintenance of all forms of railway and related equipment and industrial systems. The profession plays a vital role in the establishment and sustainable operation of transport systems to boost the economy of the country in all aspects.
The tasks which the professional railway engineers undertake are multidisciplinary that require knowledge and skill in business, management and many engineering areas. Due to the very broad nature of the profession of railway engineering, the profession has numerous areas of specialization at global level such as signaling, rail operation, infrastructure and rolling stock.
The railway engineers who specialized in mechanical engineering related areas (Rolling Stock Engineering) are expected to deal with:
- Rolling stock design and specification ( air brake system, air conditioning system, diesel traction power plants, wagon design, rail vehicle structural design, wheel set design, etc)
- Rolling stock design, development and manufacture
- Rolling stock operation and maintenance (costing, facilities and equipment, planning and recording, vehicle condition monitoring, vehicle configuration control)
- Rolling stock incident investigation and vehicle performance monitoring
- Engineering and maintenance aspects of railway workshop
- Railway operation and management (technical service management in the capacity of General Manager, Maintenance Manager, etc.)
Depending on the engineering tasks one is undertaking or the position one is holding, a professional mechanical engineer working in a railway company (Rolling Stock Engineer) can have professional titles and/or job specification like Design Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Installation Engineer, Utilities Engineer, or management title/job like General Manager, Technical Manager, Operation Manager, Maintenance Manager, Sales Engineer, and rendering consultancy services in the field.
Admission Requirements
Mechanical Engineers who hold BSc degree from recognized higher learning institutions and who meet other requirements set by the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University can be admitted to Rolling Stock Engineering.