Our customer's goal is to create and maintain a qualitatively good and safe railway infrastructure. Railinfra Opleidingen (Rail infrastructure Training) has the ambition to be the best training institute and the ultimate knowledge platform for railway infrastructure companies.

 

Railinfra Opleidingen is a vital link in the chain of availability of a safe railway infrastructure. Knowledge and know-how of the usage, maintenance and construction of railway infrastructure is extremely specific. It is of vital importance for the railway sector to preserve and develop this knowledge. Railinfra Opleidingen wishes to contribute greatly to this educational process. Suppliers from the industry and infrastructure managers are increasingly using our training facility as a 'testing environment' for their products.

 

 

In Amersfoort, Railinfra Opleidingen has an excellently equipped training facility at its disposal where all aspects of railway infrastructure can be found and studied. It is an unique location with unprecedented training opportunities. The work situation has been recreated as concretely as possible. In our inside and outside laboratories, students can practice with electric cables, signalling installations, railway constructions, energy supply, catenaries and communication systems without endangering the train service.

 

 

On this location, 65 involved staff members work daily on our successful products and services which enhance the learning and sharing of knowledge of our customers.

 

The market parties involve Railinfra Opleidingen with their new developments. Railinfra Opleidingen as an educational partner offers a wide range of trainings, job-aids, learning tools and exams. It is all about custom-made advice adjusted to the demands and work processes of the customer. Our approach vouches for passed-on knowledge that is synchronised with the technical developments in practice and that is connected to the current demands.

 

 

 

The Railinfra Opleidingen Board consists of several managers and board members from important railway infrastructure companies. Railinfra Opleidingen has a flat organisational structure. This structure promotes direct communication but it also vouches for flexibility and the ability to respond as quickly as possible to changing needs.

 

Railinfra Opleidingen has a number of instructors holding a permanent appointment. Furthermore, visiting lecturers with knowledge from practice are used. The advantage of this combination of instructors is that the study material is closely connected with practice and it is always up-to-date.

 

 

 

We would like to be called to account for the contribution of our efforts to the intended purpose. It is important to have a clear vision of the customer's goals and when a customer is contented. Every customer has its own business policy and culture and it is important to fit in with these. Important themes from their policy will be a part of the products. During the learning process we appeal to values which are centrally placed within the customer's organisation.

 

We realise that there are more possibilities to promote the development of organisations and people. Besides trainings, Railinfra Opleidingen also designs development programs for specific target groups and we produce guidebooks and job aids. Railinfra Opleidingen knows all about the employees in the trade. We are strong in translating policy to consequences on the shop floor.

 

The first matter of importance is providing practice-based expert knowledge and skills, not forgetting the promotion of a good business attitude. An attitude where working safely comes first.

 

An optimal result is reached when all parties lend a hand. We think it is important to make clear how responsibilities for the learning process and result are divided between employer, employee and educator. Railinfra Opleidingen realises the learner's responsibility for his own learning process is an important condition for success. Through fitting in with the customer's educational needs, 'What do you want to learn?', we stimulate the customer's motivation and responsibility.

 

Not theory, but the customer's actual daily practice plays a central part: what is learned, should be applicable directly. We use examples from practice and we simulate the workplace in our laboratory.

 

If you invest in educating people, you would like to if they have produced the desired results. Through an assessment of the learner, we will find out if there has been a development resulting in the required workmanship. Assessing regularly during the trainings will help the learner to have a grip on his learning process. Good feedback will indicate mistakes in an early stage so they will not sink in. Through evaluating internally and externally with the customer, we can improve our products and make sure the customer is satisfied.

 

Not too early, nor too late: this is the thought behind 'just-in-time training'. There should be as less time as possible between the learning process and the applying of new knowledge in practice. Directly applying what is learned reduces the possibility that knowledge will be forgotten.

 

Railinfra Opleidingen optimally uses the customer's competences and developments. Customer collaboration is one of our best qualities. For our products, we collaborate with professional representatives from the trade to make a suitable offer. Due to broad experience and expertise combined with a professional and creative approach, we supply business economic sound products.

 

 

 

Railinfra Opleidingen offers trainings based on 'blended learning' (a combination of e-learning and class teaching). Trainweb is our learning portal on the internet where the customer has access to trainings and exams. Trainweb is the digital start of every NVW-safety training at Railinfra Opleidingen. Each student completes basic modules on the internet before they attend class as a part of his training. This way each student starts at the same level of basic knowledge which results in less time in class in Amersfoort.

 

When the student is logged on, his training starts. The modules have a visual character. They contain plans, maps, photos, films and animations. The visuals are complemented with a short textual explanation. Exercises that are meant to serve as a self test are included in the modules. To avoid confusion: this self test is not a part of the actual examination but it is a part of the training as a whole.