Moving Smarter: Attracting Future Generations of ITS Experts

If we successfully want to meet the challenge of creating intermodal, efficient, environmentally friendly, barrier-free and affordable mobility of the future, ITS are a key factor to success. The rather abstract term "intelligent transport systems" (ITS) is only vaguely associated with mobility by non-experts and cannot yet sufficiently convey its importance for "moving smarter" - neither for society at large nor for the individual user. This positive image needs to be created early on, together with new visions of mobility. The strategic approach is to start early and lead children and young people towards ITS by filling the abstract notion of "intelligent transport systems" with more concrete content and also offer providing a variety of age-adequate activities for young people, including training and career opportunities from primary to tertiary levels of education, i.e. from kindergarten to graduation. Moreover, a clearer definition of the occupational field will help in attracting more young people to a career in ITS.