Development Project for Railway Signalling Engineering trainers Erasmus Project

Project Title

Development Project for Railway Signalling Engineering trainers

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

A study sponsored by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) identified a range of specific emerging challenges to the Vocational Education Training (VET) sector in general (Volmari, Helakorpi & Frimodt, 2009). These include the increase in administrative tasks and responsibilities, the individualisation of learning, supporting learner autonomy, the significance of networking and the expansion of responsibilities relating to quality assurance. It particularly noted the increased administrative burden taking time. Prompted by the CEDEFOP study, the UIC (World body of Railways) started an active research stream and one of the programs centres on the development of Railway trainers.

Based on literature research and a benchmark within Railway Training organisations it was recommended to develop a European behavioural competency framework for trainers and developers, make use of appropriate (new) training technologies, develop the initial and continuous development qualifications for trainers and exploiting ‘best practices’ in and between Railway training organisations. The development of skills and competences of vocational Signalling trainers working in Railway Training organisations is main priority in this project.

In October 2014 the UIC Expertise Development Platform (EDP) started a pilot exchange program with vocational Signalling Engineering trainers from five Railway Training organisations in Europe: Belgium (Infrabel), Germany (DB Training), The Netherlands (Railcenter, formerly known as Railinfra Opleidingen), Norway (Jernbaneverket) and United Kingdom (Network Rail). The target group selected by the EDP are Signalling Engineering trainers and developers, giving vocational training mainly to workers in the field of Signalling in Railway Infrastructure. From the 5 participating organisations 11 trainers are participant in the working group, completed with 2 facilitators from the coordinating organisation.

The trainers themselves are part of the development of new approaches in technology (technical and in learning), exchange of expertise and the delivery of tangible products and ‘good practices’. The project characterises itself as learning by doing and working as action learning group of vocational trainers from similar organisations in Europe. Together the group works on the delivery of a competence framework for trainers/developers, an initial development program for new trainers, a guideline with learning activities for the continuous development, a template for the exchange between vocational trainers and a paper with results from the project.

Main objectives:
– Knowledge sharing on training methodologies, trainer development and new training technologies,
– Developing a European behavioural competence framework for trainers,
– Developing ERTMS training,
– Collaboration between international VET institutions.

Main undertaken activities in the project were the transnational meetings for Signalling EngineeringTrainers, totally 6. In between these ‘life’ meetings the use of Trainweb (digital communication platform) as discussion and learning platform. Collection of materials and work done by partner organisations are collected and spread to all partners.

Most impact of the project is expected on local level, at the individual Railway Training organisations. The disired impact is that the quality of VET increases at these organisations, because best practices in training methodologies, trainer development and new training technologies are shared and implemented. At regional and national level the desired impact is that more groups than the pilot group will adapt the way of working and exchange best practices to improve VET in Railway Training organisations.
At (European) international level the impact desired is that the quality of VET (in the Railway sector) will increase.That higher levels of excellence and attractiveness will increase opportunities for workers and trainers in the Railway sector. Combined with increased cross-border cooperation and use of technological innovation this will have impact on working together to improve VET in Europe.

In the paper (one of intellectual outputs) we described the background, process and impact of the project and disseminated our intellectual ouputs at the World congress on Railway Training (WCRT) in Potsdam/berlin in April, 2017. A half year later in October 2017 we organised a multiplier event in Rome were we presented the intellectual outputs including the feedback we got from the WCRT in Potsdam/Berlin. We also had the opportunity to show our programme and outcomes at the Erasmus+ 30th annual Congress (december 2017 in Amersfoort)

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 150007 Eur

Project Coordinator

Stichting Railinfra Opleidingen & Country: NL

Project Partners

• INFRABEL SA
• NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
• Jernbaneverket
• DB Training