SYSLOG plus: The Teaching and Learning Platform for Combined Transport

Against the backdrop of the previously poorly conveyed knowledge about Combined Transport in logistics education, the increasing demand for digital tools for teaching, and the political goal of shifting to environmentally friendly modes of transport, the Study Society for Combined Transport e.V. (SGKV) is developing the digital and interactive teaching and learning platform for Combined Transport “SYSLOG plus” together with the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT).

(Berlin) In 2020, Combined Transport (CT) accounted for 26% of the transport volume and 40% of the transport performance of rail freight transport, as well as 11% of the transport volume and 12% of the transport performance of inland shipping (Destatis 2021). Despite the increasing importance of CT as an environmentally friendly transport system, knowledge about it is still hardly conveyed in logistics education. The next generation of logistics professionals or tomorrow’s transport planners often only come into contact with the field of Combined Transport when they are trained in companies that operate in this area. Furthermore, the digitalization in vocational schools has significantly increased and will continue to gain importance in the future. The accompanying need for digital tools for sustainable transport systems in both vocational and higher education is growing. CT has high potential for future CO2 savings in freight transport. Thus, understanding the system is necessary for future transport planners to contribute to the climate protection goals of the federal government.

With the digital teaching and learning platform “SYSLOG plus”, knowledge about Combined Transport can be conveyed independently of location, using interactive, collaborative, and playful elements to reach the target audience. The aim is to actively increase the share of CT content in the training of logistics professions, support digital learning and teaching, and promote sustainable transport systems. The long-term goal is to establish SYSLOG plus in logistics education.

SYSLOG plus (www.syslog.plus) consists of three digital tools:

• the WIKI as a reference work/lexicon for CT,
• the EDU as a learning management system based on Moodle with teaching units on CT under media-didactic aspects, and
• the LAB as an interactive exercise tool for simulating transport chains and solving practice tasks.

All tools are now available for use in the testing phase; further content and optimizations are planned until the project ends (September 2023).

SYSLOG plus is aimed at both teachers at logistics-specific vocational and higher education institutions and trainers in logistics companies for further training measures or as introductory knowledge for new employees and career changers. At the same time, learners such as students, trainees, and young professionals are also encouraged to use all or individual tools for learning purposes.

In November, the first two training workshops on the application of these tools in teaching began. Further training workshops will follow from February 2023. The feedback has been consistently positive. The use of these tools is intended for both face-to-face and online teaching.

Interested parties can contact the SGKV regarding participation in public training workshops. Another opportunity for participation is joining the regular online exchange platform, which includes the presentation of the current project status, the application of the tools with corresponding functionalities, and space for exchange/discussion. The next date for the online exchange platform is March 3, 2023. If interested, please feel free to contact the project management, Diana Fieberg (dfieberg@sgkv.de) and Jan Schlierf (jschlierf@sgkv.de).

SYSLOG plus is funded as part of the national climate protection initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The project duration is 30 months. The project ends on September 30, 2023.

Photo: © SYSLOG plus