Collaboration Increases the Relevance of Education
Region Stockholm
In the course Public Transport Systems, Buses, and Rail at KTH, Region Stockholm contributes with project assignments and lectures. The region's engagement provides students with knowledge that will benefit them in their future careers.
Collaboration ensures relevance
"The collaboration with the Traffic Administration in Region Stockholm helps ensure that the course addresses areas and issues where there is a need for expertise in the industry. By having people from the Traffic Administration lecture on their areas of specialization, students gain a current and well-informed insight into how things work in practice," says Erik Jenelius, course coordinator for Public Transport Systems, Buses, and Rail . Erik Jenelius has collaborated with the Traffic Administration in Region Stockholm for many years.
Siri Brolén, a mobility strategy specialist at Region Stockholm, has lectured in the course. She enjoys meeting students and explaining how Region Stockholm’s Traffic Administration works and why.
"The students are usually very engaged and curious; in addition, they are likely to be future colleagues and/or partners."
"I also remember how valuable it was when someone from the industry came and gave lectures, so now it's my turn to give back," says Siri Brolén, who studied Civil Engineering in Urban Planning with a focus on Traffic Engineering at KTH between 2007 and 2012.
Real Challenges Increase Interest
The course includes lectures and exercises but also features a major project assignment where students practice strategic planning for public transport and use an important planning tool, Visum.
"Students choose an area to work on and design proposals for expansions or changes in transport services. The project includes using a simple socio-economic analysis to compare the results of different alternatives," explains Erik Jenelius. Strategic planners from the Traffic Administration provide feedback on students’ proposals during the course and on the results of the analyses at the end of the course.
"From our perspective, collaboration with the region is a great way to ensure that the project and the overall course content are relevant—and feel relevant—to students for their future careers," says Erik. He continues:
"Through the project, students gain practical experience in methods and tools for strategic public transport planning. They learn to analyze problems from multiple perspectives and balance the benefits and costs of different solutions. These are valuable skills for future work in urban and transport planning, whether in a regional or municipal setting, as a consultant, or with a transport company," Erik Jenelius explains.
What does it mean for students to work with real-world challenges?
"I believe it increases students’ interest in working with public transport planning in the future. To successfully transition to a sustainable transport system, we need people with both the interest and the knowledge required to move in the right direction," says Erik Jenelius.
What does it require from you as an external organization to engage in the course?
"It takes some time and commitment—thinking through what is relevant for students at their stage of education and considering what should be highlighted—but it’s worth it. Most of all, it's fun to lecture for students," concludes Siri Brolén.