Professional Skills
Travel plan development
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This course covers the practical processes involved in developing a travel plan. You will draft a travel plan for your own organisation or one you are working with. Travel plan design is considered generically, based upon the Department for Transport template; participants can then choose to follow a workplace or school travel plan development stream. The course will familiarise newly appointed Travel Plan Coordinators with crucial aspects of workplace and school travel plan development and broaden existing Coordinators’ knowledge. It will also appeal to others in an appropriate professional context such as a Local Authority Travel Coordinator or transport consultant.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GT014 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
This course is designed to:
- assist you to identify the objectives of a travel plan
- specify the scope of the travel plan
- identify the travel elements of an organisation's business activity it is addressing
- identify appropriate actions/measures for achieving your stated objectives
- identify roles and responsibilities for implementing and running a travel plan
- understand how to obtain management and organisational support.
The first part of the course provides an overview of the philosophy and nature of travel plans. Transport demand management through travel plans involves not just the production of a set of measures, but is a process that is implemented by a dispersed range of stakeholders. The next section develops and explores this point by considering the development cycle of travel plans. The course then concentrates upon five key processes in travel plan development:
1. Developing clear objectives for a travel plan that link into benefits for individuals, the organisation, the environment and the community.
2. Selecting appropriate measures for a travel plan.
3. Securing resources to fund the travel plan measures.
4. Identifying roles and responsibilities to implement and maintain a travel plan.
5. Securing management and organisational support.
It should be noted that two further CPD courses will cover two other substantial areas for travel planners. The first will concern social marketing and the second course will concern data-gathering and analysis. These aspects will be referred to in this course, but not covered in depth.
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- relate a travel plan to the goals and purpose of the host organisation, obtaining and sustaining senior management support to ensure ‘buy-in’ participation to the travel plan (including differentiation between voluntary and mandatory schemes)
- develop clear objectives for a travel plan that links into benefits for individuals, the organisation, the environment and the community
- understand where to position a travel plan within an organisation’s management structure
- know how travel planning links to the development control process
- plan the funding of a travel plan, including the relevant financial structures of key stakeholders in travel planning programmes and the availability and nature of possible capital and revenue funding streams
- develop/focus your communication skills, including negotiation and discussion within organisations (e.g. between Human Resources, Facilities and departments) and with service providers such as bus operators, bike shops and other suppliers
- develop a knowledge of good practice initiatives for individual transport modes and package measures. This will include good practice measures to promote walking, cycling, car-sharing, use of public transport and other low-carbon travel (or travel substituting) initiatives
- gain an understanding of the sequence in which to introduce measures, the use of both incentives and disincentives, and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of users
- identify potential obstacles to changes in travel behaviour and identify opportunities for change.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. It requires no more than 30 hours of your time in total, over whatever period suits you. But the learning is far richer than more expensive one- to three-day workshops. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (N.B. The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GT014 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GT014 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
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- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
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