"<< Background >>Vilnius College of Technologies and Design (farther College) is the only educational institution Lithunia that trains railway specialist, therefore we must look for examples of good practice in the training of these specialists abroad. The sector of railway transportation is constantly improving and uses the newest technologies, adopts the practices and standards of other EU countries. The College provides vocational training after adjunction of Vilnius Railway Transport and Business Services School. During the short period of professional training (the duration of most vocational training programs is 1 year), it is extremely difficult for students to introduce and form the necessary personal and professional qualities required by future employers. Therefore, the College provides students and profession teachers the opportunity to gain good experience in foreign companies. It is one of the most effective tool for training specialists.The specifics of educational activity (vocational training) and strategic activity guidelines (strategic plan) oblige to constant improvement of general and professional competences of vocational teachers by improving the content of vocational training programs and the quality of their implementation, therefore the institution pays great attention to:- international staff and student mobility;- employment of innovations in the implementation of training programs;- improvement of practical training models;- arrangement and implementation of projects.<< Objectives >>Lithuania is a transit country and its favorable geographical position is like a bridge between East and West. Eastern and Western European railway rolling stock is currently being operated in Lithuania, the ""Rail Baltica"" project is being intensively developed, and more and more innovations from Western Europe are being applied and adopted. Western Europe railway transport system is different from Lithuania. The differences are not only in the width of the track, but also in the speed of railway transport, infrastructure, etc. The College vocational training base is modern and compatible the needs of Lithuanian labour market., It is necessary to improve the qualification of teachers and the subject competencies of students, especially digital, in order to integrate into the Western European railway transport system and meet the needs of the Western European railway transport sector. During the implementation of the project, students and vocational teachers had a great opportunity to get acquainted with the latest trends in the development of railway transport, with the specifics of the training of railway transport specialists in the Republic of Austria. The project participants learnt the practices applied abroad, what kind of professional employees are currently needed, and what are the requirements for them.Internship tasks:- get acquainted with the latest information technology achievements in the implementation of digital technologies in railway transport in Austria;- to gain knowledge and experience in the use of the latest digital technologies in the training of railway transport specialists;- to acquaint vocational students with the latest railway transport, IT and digital technologies;- to acquire independent learning skills by learning according to the project-based learning methodology.<< Implementation >>Implemented activities: - Fourteen-day training practice of vocational students in Austrian companies, which are related to railway transport management and service. 20 students improved their general, subject and digital competences. They got acquainted with the latest areas of railway transport digital technology, security, communications, customer service, and train management. They were accompanied by 2 vocational teachers.- Fourteen-day internship of 8 vocational teachers in the Republic of Austria. Vocational teachers improved their professional and didactic competences in the field of digital technologies.Teachers were acquainted with the Austrian vocational training system, form of apprenticeship training, vocational training programs, training base. The teachers discussed IT practical training, the application of digital tools in the teaching process, observed training in classrooms, and could try out the student testing methodology and tools themselves. A number of companies were visited, managers and employees were met, who presented the specifics of the companies activities and their connections with the railway transport sector. The teachers gained experience at the new training center of the Austrian Federal Railways in Knittelfeld (ÖBB-Lehrwerkstätte Knittelfeld, ""Österreichische Bundes-Bahn""). The head of the vocational training department presented the company activities, the features of dual vocational training, introduced the base of practical training. During the visit discussions were held about the development of railway transport employees' competences (special attention was paid to the development of digital competences), the duration of education, the execution of exams and other issues. Representatives of WIFI Carinthia (Carinthia Chamber of Commerce Service Center) presented the student testing system, which they tested, introduced the Austrian centralized qualification examination system and its features. At the Center for Scientific and Technical Advancement, Infineon (one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world, a leader in its field in terms of product quality) got acquainted with the latest information technology products and their application in the transport sector. At the company Historama the teachers met the training staff, responsible for training courses for adults and railway enthusiasts. Analog devices and products for railway infrastructure were presented there. Other vocational training centers were also visited.- Considering the experience gained, the content of the train driver vocational training program has been partially updated, and new training methods have been applied.<< Results >>Implemented project tasks and achieved results:- improved digital competencies of rail transport vocational training specialists, responding to the latest needs and trends of the rail transport digitization process;- teachers gained subject knowledge and good experience in the use of simulation environments in the training of railway transport specialists;- students got acquainted with vocational practical training abroad, gained not only practical experience in a real company, but also motivation to improve. They had the opportunity to see rolling stock in operation in EU countries, the application of digital tools and technologies in rail transport and other areas;- improved general and subject competences of students and acquired self-learning competences will allow them to adapt more easily in the promising labor market."