Abstract
Purpose: The main purpose is to develop a portfolio (toolkit) of innovative methods, approaches and professional practices for rail skills development and as a result improve and modernise the current rail higher education provision in Europe. The most relevant horizontal and sectoral priority that this study will address is tackling gaps and mismatches between industry requirements and expectations and the current higher education provision for rail knowledge and skills development.
Research Approach: for a rigorous result, a mixed method approach is employed. The study started with literature review of teaching methods and interviewed academics on their teaching practices from eight European universities, followed by a survey to capture the rail industry requirements for jobs market, and to identified gaps between universities’ education provision and industry expectations.
Findings and Originality: The expected findings focus on mapping and tackling gaps and mismatches between rail higher education provision and industry expectations and requirements for rail skills development. An original outcome includes the development of a new portfolio of specialised rail related teaching, learning and training methods, approaches, tools and professional practice at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels, which incorporates innovation and new developments for rail higher education provision. A foundation and mechanisms for gaining cognitive and transferable skills needed for career progression within the rail industry is built.
Research Impact and Practical Impact: The profound impacts envisaged are fully centred
on combating the staff shortage in the railway industry and equipping the current and future
rail employee with the skills and competences required for successful career in the railways.
Due to its timely and innovative nature, this research will be a key reference in the field of rail
university degree programmes, higher education provisions and rail skills development.
Furthermore, this study will develop a toolkit that provides a detailed information on what is
essential and should remain unchanged in the current approaches and teaching practices for
rail skills development in the subject area and what can be updated, suggest changes and
improvements in the Curriculum's (programme, course, session).
Research Approach: for a rigorous result, a mixed method approach is employed. The study started with literature review of teaching methods and interviewed academics on their teaching practices from eight European universities, followed by a survey to capture the rail industry requirements for jobs market, and to identified gaps between universities’ education provision and industry expectations.
Findings and Originality: The expected findings focus on mapping and tackling gaps and mismatches between rail higher education provision and industry expectations and requirements for rail skills development. An original outcome includes the development of a new portfolio of specialised rail related teaching, learning and training methods, approaches, tools and professional practice at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels, which incorporates innovation and new developments for rail higher education provision. A foundation and mechanisms for gaining cognitive and transferable skills needed for career progression within the rail industry is built.
Research Impact and Practical Impact: The profound impacts envisaged are fully centred
on combating the staff shortage in the railway industry and equipping the current and future
rail employee with the skills and competences required for successful career in the railways.
Due to its timely and innovative nature, this research will be a key reference in the field of rail
university degree programmes, higher education provisions and rail skills development.
Furthermore, this study will develop a toolkit that provides a detailed information on what is
essential and should remain unchanged in the current approaches and teaching practices for
rail skills development in the subject area and what can be updated, suggest changes and
improvements in the Curriculum's (programme, course, session).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Sept 2022 |