At the WISTAR Workshop in Huy on September 5, 2025, Dipl.-Ing. Jens Ley, Head of Department Design and Simulation of Ships and Offshore-Structures at DST – Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems, presented the EU-funded ARIELL project (Transformative Learning in Inland Waterways Education with Simulators and Digital Innovations).
Running from November 2024 to October 2027, the ARIELL project brings together five partners – DST, SBKR, University of Craiova, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, and Navi Barging – to modernize vocational education and training in inland navigation.
During his presentation, Mr. Ley highlighted the project’s main objectives:
- Align inland navigation education with EU Directive 2017/2397 standards.
- Integrate modern IWT simulators into vocational training and e-learning platforms.
- Develop dedicated virtual simulation scenarios that enhance essential and advanced skills.
- Contribute to the harmonization of inland navigation education across Europe.
- Expand international access to innovative training opportunities, accommodating diverse learning needs.
An example scenario presented was sailing with limited visibility, demonstrating how ARIELL combines e-learning modules, simulation, feedback loops, and progressive levels of difficulty to create a measurable learning curve for both students and professionals.
The workshop audience welcomed the initiative as a milestone in digital transformation for inland waterway education, underlining its potential to strengthen skills, safety, and cross-border cooperation in the sector.