In engineering studies at the university level, academic practical exercises support the students in expanding their theoretical knowledge of a particular engineering area with practical solutions to any given problem. This is especially true in the railway sector. Traditionally, this kind of education takes place in specific railway laboratories with live student participation. Railway laboratories, as an important educational and research base of the university, serve also in the education of railway experts for practical purposes, i.e. for staff of infrastructure managers and railway companies. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the usual educational lectures and exercises were no longer possible due to social distancing. Because of that, new ideas have to be developed on how the contents of the exercises can be taught digitally to be prepared for challenges such as a pandemic in the future.

The IDEALCAREL project is focused on the education of railway engineers at universities and aims at equipping the education of railway engineers to face the challenges presented by the shift to online and distance learning, including supporting teachers to develop digital competencies and safeguarding the inclusive nature of learning opportunities.

With IDEALCAREL, the project consortium envisages three universities that offer bachelor's and master's degree study programs including courses in the railway laboratory. So, the project partners are linked by the usage of special practical training in railway laboratories. The need for an innovative approach to education within the transition to digital formulates a unique opportunity to create new methodological procedures in training. This will ensure the creation of a unified curriculum despite various national differences in traffic management and regulatory procedures of railway infrastructure managers. At the same time, the project contributes to meeting the objectives of EU transport policy, which includes the creation of a single European railway area and to the establishment of an interoperable railway system.