1. André van Es and Roepesh Bechan
Minor Railway Technology
Co-operation between industry & education
Evaluation Pilot 2012 – 2015

2. Experience without theory is blind,
but theory without experience is
mere intellectual play
Immanuel Kant (1724 –1804)

3. Timeline
University
Initiative, plans and agreement
Association of consulting engineers
Association of constructors
Infrastructure manager
2011

4. Internationally accepted ECTS credits
‘100 years’ experience
Interships
Latest developments
Contribution
Train the trainers

5. Timeline
1st Cohort
Initiative, plans and agreement
3rd Cohort
2nd Cohort
2011
Sept. ‘12 – Feb. ‘13
Sept. ‘13 – Feb. ‘14
Sept. ‘14 – Feb. ‘15

6. Lessons learned

7. A senior professional ≠ automatically a good teacher!
> 40 (visiting) lecturers = Too much!
Knowledge is in their head, in their lecture. Not in writing!
(lack of syllabi / good books)
Lessons learned

8. Lecturers
Infrastructure manager
Supplier
Engineering firm
Contractor
Rolling stock certification
2014 - 2015

9. Curriculum
Minor Railway Technology
2014 – 2015

10. Semester 2Semester 1
Introduction Rail Transport
Railway System Engineering
Rail Infrastructure Life Cycle
Project Integral Design
(feasibility study)
Project Renewal
(rebuilding junction)
10 ECTS
5 ECTS
5 ECTS
5 ECTS
5 ECTS
Module Design
Module Constructing
Module Maintenance
Curriculum Minor Railway Technology

11. Curriculum Minor Railway Technology
Introduction rail transport
Railway system engineering
Rail infrastructure life cycle
Project Integral design
(feasibility study)
Project Renewal
(rebuilding junction)
Module Design
Module Constructing
Module Maintenance
Semester 2Semester 1
Field trips

12. Curriculum Minor Railway Technology
Introduction rail transport
Project Integral design
(feasibility study)
Semester 1
Railway System Engineering
Laboratory

13. Introduction rail transport
Railway system engineering
Project Integral design
(feasibility study)
Curriculum Minor Railway Technology
Turn-out Construction
Semester 1

14. Curriculum Minor Railway Technology
Semester 2Semester 1
Field trips Field trips

15. Our Students

16. Minor Railway Technology

17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIuUsiFJMjw

18. Electrical EngineeringLogistics and Economy Internship at Strukton

19. Landscape and Spatial Planning
Mobility
Mobility
Civil Engineering
Business Management
ICT
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Business Engineering
Safety and Security Management
Civil Engineering
Logistics
and Economy
Civil Engineering
Spatial Planning
Pre minor disciplines
System and Network Engineering
Civil EngineeringAviation
Civil Engineering

20. 48 so far
45 graduated the minor
30 % of the first cohort started a job in the railway industry
Students
1 innovation during graduation

21. Students
Improved Dropper –
Catenary wire clamp
No temporary binding necessary
10% reduction on assembling costs
1 innovation during graduation

22. Syllabi (in English)
Increasing network through students
Timeline
International collaboration
Railacademy
Course in English
2016 →

23. The success is best reflected
by the young professionals who
were once our students

24. Roepesh Bechan
Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Coordinator Minor railway technology
Tel.: +31 6 392 640 14
e-mail: roepesh.bechan@hu.nl
André van Es
Senior consultant Arcadis Netherlands and lecturer railway technology Utrecht University of Applied Sciences
Tel.: +31 6 2706 2413
e-mail: andre.vanes@hu.nl / andre.vanes@arcadis.nl
Utrecht University of Applied Sciences
Oudenoord 700
3513 EX Utrecht