The UIC Global Mentoring Program for Railway Talents offers railway employees a rare opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues at international railway companies, expand their networks across national borders, and actively advance their personal development. At the same time, participating railways benefit from motivated talent, fresh ideas from other companies, and a stronger position as an attractive employer within the global rail community.
In 2025, the UIC Talent and Expertise Development Platform (TEDP), together with its Talent Working Group, successfully ran a pilot edition of the international mentoring programme.
Taking into account the interest shown in this programme by railway undertakings (RUs) and railway infrastructure managers (IMs) and the success of this pilot, and building on the experience gained during the pilot, the UIC has decided to continue the programme as an annual edition of the UIC Global Mentoring Program for Railway Talents. This programme will continue to be supported by the knowledge and experience of UIC members collaborating within Working Group 1 ‘Railway Talents’ of the Talent and Expertise Development Platform (TEDP) and will be progressively strengthened through synergies and collaboration with the UIC International Railway Research Board (IRRB) and the IRRB Academic Board for Innovation (IRRB ABI).
Recruitment is currently underway for the 2026/2027 edition of the UIC Global Mentoring Programme for Railway Talents.
This initiative brings together specialists from railway companies around the world to support cross-border knowledge exchange and skills development. The programme facilitates the exchange of experiences, provides motivation and guidance, and enhances the qualifications of railway specialists within their organisations, enabling them to explore mentoring as a potential approach to transformation processes in the railway sector.
This programme is one of the components of the UIC’s activities within the areas of Research (IRRB & IRRB ABI), Knowledge Management (TEDP & IRRB ABI) and Innovation (IRRB RCHs & IRRB ABI), which aim, amongst other things, to strengthen experts’ leadership and managerial competencies in the railway sector.
In line with the sector’s needs, it also helps to raise the profile of the railway sector by providing mentors and mentees with international exposure and facilitating the mutual exchange of knowledge, thereby fostering a better understanding of railways worldwide.
As part of the programme, a special scheme for graduates and ambassadors of the UIC Global Mentoring Programme will also be launched shortly.
The application period for the new cohort of the 2026/2027 Mentoring Programme is now open (Nomination / Aplications for Mentors and Mentees starts in August 2026 – Apply now!)
The nomination period runs from August to 10 September 2026. UIC Member companies may nominate 1 – 2 tandems, each consisting of one mentee and one mentor. UIC Partners – members of IRRB ABI – may apply for access to this Global Mentoring Program for Railway Talents and express their interest by sending an email to irrb at uic.org. W obu przypadkach dotyczacych Czlonkow UIC I Partnerow UIC bedacych czlonkami IRRB ABI procedura wymaga zgloszenia z wykorzystaniem odpowiednio, ponizszych linkow:
• Mentor: https://evenium.events/95lqcupk
• Mentee: https://evenium.events/jmdncupl
The pairs will then be matched during a matchmaking phase across companies and countries based on their preferences and experience. Once the participants have been announced by mid-September, they will receive confirmation as well as details about the kick-off event in October. The programme will then run for 8 – 9 months and conclude with a closing event at the UIC in Paris in June 2027.
All applications are welcome. The specific eligibility criteria for mentors and mentees can be found in the information packet (in the attached file). In particular, UIC looks forward to applications from railway professionals with a STEM (MINT) background. The programme aims to highlight the representation of women in the railway sector – applications from women are therefore especially welcome.