About the Project

In the early 1990s, the European Union (EU) launched a harmonization policy to improve the performance of the European Railway System. Providing the interoperability of railway networks in different European countries became the crucial point of this harmonization process. Due to the utilisation of Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) it was aimed to have an integrated European railway network in terms of infrastructure, rolling stock, signalling, electrification and other subsystems of the rail system. Safety plays a central role in the interoperability within this integrated European railway network. Safety Management System (SMS) was developed to sustain the operations of the rail subsystems safely.

Within SMS, the definitions of safety critical railway operations were determined. Keeping updated with the state-of-the-art European railway interoperability and common standards is a major challenge in harmonizing the railway education (both in undergraduate and graduate studies) and training modules. In addition to that, the technological advancements, which set a higher standard for the railway personnel assigned to undertake the safety-critical operations such as operating trains and maintaining infrastructure and rolling stocks, add to the pressure of standardizing the educational packages for railway personnel all over Europe.

In this regard, the aim of this project is to enhance a high percentage match between new graduates from the railway departments/programs of the vocational transportation schools and the human resources requirements for the safety critical railway operations by means of improving the offered syllabus at those schools and producing standardized educational modules. Besides, appropriate occupational standards will be upgraded, education modules and education materials will be developed to increase the professional knowledge, skills and competencies of the current and potential personnel. As a result, it can be stated that there exist two primary target groups of this project. The first group includes the people who have completed vocational high school education and who are willing to receive education and/or training on safety critical railway operation systems. The second group includes the people who are currently working in the railway sector.

People working in the field of railway transportation within railroad construction, railway electrification and signalling systems, railroad transportation management sub-sections are required to have certain set of skills and education in EU countries. There is a great correlation between well-equipped personnel and safe running of the whole railway traffic system. It will be one of the most important achievements of this project to initialize the education of highly qualified personnel that will improve the safe and sustainable railway transportation in the forthcoming years. Also, the joint effort between the project partners will allow the spreading of beneficial and practical applications throughout the European Union.

With the Erasmus+ Program, education and training have been provided to people of all ages and disciplines to increase their personal development and employment opportunities. In line with this program, this project has been developed for ensuring railway safety and improving the quality of Union railway network services with “Development of Education Modules for Safety Critical Railway Operation Systems”.

For the participants:

The project will contribute to personal development and also increase the professional knowledge and educational level regarding safety-critical railway operations. Additionally, it will help to progress collaboration and cooperation between partners.

For the participating organizations:

Each project partner will submit their study to evaluate and understand relevant educational actions from the safety-critical operations point of view in their own countries. In this way, interoperability and harmonizing issues for safety-critical operations will be optimized according to the diversified data from the partners from different countries. In addition, the prepared education modules, training materials, and software that are supporting the education modules will be supplied to the related institutions and organizations, particularly public and private institutions in order to educate the workforce that will be employed in the future. With the project, a systematic educational programme will be formed in the railway industry that requires intensive knowledge and experience on the modules, such as railroad construction, railway electrification and signaling systems, railroad transportation management etc.

For the target groups:

The main target groups of the project are vocational education and training students, and current railway personnel in the public and private sector. People working in the field of the railway are required to have a certain set of skills and education in most developed countries, especially in EU countries. Thus, making the job definitions and qualifications correctly and putting these job descriptions and qualifications in a certain standard will provide a great benefit to safety-critical railway operations. It will be one of the most important achievements of this project to initiate the education of well-equipped staff that will enhance the safe and sustainable railway transportation in the coming years. This will create a great opportunity for a new professional path for vocational education and training students, and strengthening the well-directed and on point employment rate of the current and prospective personnel in this field.

One of the primary results expected from the project is to provide well-equipped personnel with enough knowledge and skills to work in the context of safety critical railway operation systems. Besides some of the major expected results of the project can be stated as follows:

1. The course curricula and training modules will be improved by the feedbacks from experts based on ECTS and ECVET standards.
2. Updated data and related information will be shared with relevant institutions and organizations among EU countries in order to produce standardized educational modules.
3. Enhancing a high percentage match between the new graduates from the railway technology departments/programs of the vocational transportation schools and the human resources requirements for the safety critical railway operation systems.
4. The awareness about safety critical railway operation systems will be increased. Also, it is aimed to reduce the number of railway accidents due to the application of upgraded curricula, supplementary training modules and supporting educational software.
5. Composing the key learning outcomes for the education of safety critical railway operations personnel.
6. Developing appropriate supporting educational software for railway signalling, inspection and maintenance operations for rolling stock components, etc.