Registration is now open until 10 September for mentors and mentees to participate in the UIC Global Mentoring Programme 2026/2027 for Railway Talent – a UIC initiative to support cross-border learning and skills development in the railway sector.
The programme offers railway employees a rare opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues at international railway companies, network across national borders, and advance their personal development. In parallel, participating railway companies will benefit from motivated talent, fresh ideas from other companies, and a stronger position as an attractive employer within the global rail community. Mentors and mentees alike will have international exposure and share knowledge, thereby fostering a better understanding of railways worldwide.
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, with widespread interest from railway undertakings (RUs) and infrastructure managers (IMs).
Building on the experience gained during this, UIC has decided to continue the programme with annual cycles, renaming it the “UIC Global Mentoring Programme for Railway Talent”. With continued support through the knowledge and experience of UIC members collaborating within TEDP Working Group 1: Railway Talent, the initiative 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).
This programme is also one of the components of UIC’s activities within the areas of Research (IRRB & IRRB ABI), Knowledge Management (TEDP & IRRB ABI) and Innovation (IRRB Regional Competence Hubs (RCHs) & IRRB ABI), which aim, amongst other things, to strengthen experts’ leadership and managerial competencies in the railway sector. It will provide 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.
As part of the programme, a special scheme for graduates and ambassadors of the UIC Global Mentoring Programme will also be launched shortly.
Applications are now open, with the nomination period running until 10 September 2026. UIC members may nominate 1–2 pairs, consisting of one mentee and one mentor. UIC partners (members of IRRB ABI) may also apply for access to the Global Mentoring Programme for Railway Talent and express their interest by sending an email to irrb@uic.org:
• Mentor: https://evenium.events/95lqcupk
• Mentee: https://evenium.events/jmdncupl
The pairs will then be matched across companies and countries based on their preferences and experience. Once the participants have been announced by the end of 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 final event at the UIC Headquarters in Paris in June 2027.
All applications are welcome. The specific eligibility criteria for mentors and mentees can be found in the information packet (see the file attached). 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, so applications from women are especially welcome.
For further information, please contact us at: please add here UIC mentoring Webpage address.
