Still glowing from recent work with Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) as a part of the the #RWS Consulting Challenge. Just over a week ago, my University of San Francisco team completed a multi-day strategic assessment focusing on digital transformation in the #Europe. RWS is the public agency responsible for the design, construction, management, and maintenance of thousands of highway and waterway facilities in the #Netherlands. The agency has been long been a leader in envisioning the future of transport [particularly aligning with Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) and CCAM Association | Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility initiatives within the EU] and our ongoing work with them gives an opportunity for extended knowledge transfer / sharing and mutual advancement of best practice.
In thinking about the digital transformation, our University of San Francisco School of Management and University of San Francisco (USF) College of Arts and Sciences team engaged in strategic problem-solving aimed at advancing #connected and #automated driving solutions, alongside multimodal and car-free travel goals, and #ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives that are critical for public and private organizations in addressing #climatechange.
Solutions that were ideated included a focus on: Intelligent Transportation Systems (#ITS), the use of #digitaltwins, and Traffic #DemandManagement strategies to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. With help from the amazing RWS team (including Serge van Dam, Huib de Jong, Onno Tool, Henk Schuurman, Lieke Berghout, and more) and our amazing LEF future center facilitator Eef Nibbelink, students explored how these technological solutions can synergize with sustainable #transportation, #greeninfrastructure and #smartcity developments.
An equally important facet of the recommendations #MBA and #MPA students provided was the focus on #labor and #workforce dynamics. Students emphasized that strategic hiring, retention, and continuous training are essential components of the digital roadmap for public agencies like RWS, as they navigate the future of digital infrastructure management, and compete for talent with the private sector.
Our ongoing USF-RWS collaboration continues to be a unique and forward-thinking activity for students, faculty and staff—where we can think about what lessons and innovative technology the US can offer to EU; and more importantly offer the same chance for the next generation of US leaders to bring back best practice, knowledge and case studies from the Europe. It's clear from these kind of activities that we have a shared journey to shape a #sustainable and #just future and these kind of exercises solidify that joint commitment.
#Rijkswaterstaat #DigitalTransformation #ConnectedMobility #SmartCities #knowledgetransfer #IntelligentTransportationSystems #ESG #CEDR #CCAM #FutureOfWork #internationalcollaboration