Know-How Transfer and Training Issues for the Transport Research Professional: A paper for the special issue of the International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology (IJTST) on: “Education and Training Needs for the Transportation Professio

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the context and main characteristics of an effective system for know-how transfer and training in the transport research sector in Europe. It first, gives the relevant current initiatives and policies for know-how transfer and training in the European transport research sector and then goes on to examine the main relevant issues and actions for developing a viable, versatile, and flexible European system of know-how transfer and training that goes beyond the traditional transport education and Conference organizing channels and follows the transport research professional from the early stages of his development throughout his professional life. It also examines the tools that could be put in place to effect such a system, and makes reference to some promising current examples and initiatives.Such training and know-how transfer activities should be taken primarily by the leading academic and Transport research Organizations themselves and aimed at all European transport researchers. These activities, if put on a permanent and more institutionalized format, will form the European transport research training and know-how transfer system, that would consist of the following suggested main elements: 1.Appropriate “modular” or hybrid content for the training courses;2.Permanent mechanisms and funding for researcher mobility;3.Specific bottom-up cooperative initiatives for training and know-how transfer, based on modern Information & Communication technologies;4.Specific harmonized and standardized deliverance mechanisms and educational “offers” for the transport research professionals;5.Incentives for the employing organizations to facilitate training activities;6.Overall coordination and monitoring by a permanent European Observatory for Education and Employment in Transport;7.Reinforced and institutionalized interaction opportunities between the transport research and the transport industry communities.Other relevant actions could be taken within the existing collaborative Transport research programmes e.g. the Transport pillar of the “societal challenges” part of the H2020 programme and could consist of specific provisions, impeded in the research contracts, allowing funding for activities such as web-training short courses and workshops, formulation and provision of training materials, holding workshops with the involvement of senior research personnel or leading international academics, etc.