In 2022, the Moscow College of Transport of the Russian University of Transport celebrated its 150th anniversary.The history of the educational institution is inextricably linked with the history of the state. The stages of creation and formation of one of the oldest educational institutions that train personnel for the transport industry are considered. Over the years of the college’s existence, its names and structure have changed, one generation has been replaced by another, there have been many victories and achievements. And always at the helm were strong, competent, aching soul for the work entrusted to them leaders. The quality of student training has been repeatedly confirmed by professional and public accreditation. The rich one and a half century history of the educational institution testifi es to the established traditions and colossal experience in training personnel for the transport industry.College students are winners of national and regional WorldSkills championships, teachers are certified experts, developers of WorldSkills competencies. Since 2017, on the basis of the college, RUT university championships (MIIT) have been held annually according to WorldSkills standards, which bring together professionals from various regions of the Russian Federation at one site.The educational process of the college is organized on a modern laboratory base, formed, among other things, within the framework of the program of interaction between Russian Railways and university complexes of railway transport.

Secondary vocational education is part of the state system of vocational education in the Russian Federation, which provides training for skilled workers and employees, mid-level specialists. It is these personnel, along with engineers, who are currently most needed both for the development and competitiveness of the transport industry, and for the Russian economy as a whole.The processes of restructuring the educational space of secondary vocational education in the framework of the implementation of the strategic goals of the development of the transport system of the Russian Federation are considered. The possibilities of the WorldSkills (WS) movement for the innovative development of secondary vocational education are analyzed; advantages and contradictions of the participation of educational organizations in national projects. An active role in the development of the WS movement of the Nonprofit Organization “Association of Colleges and Technical Schools of Transport” is shown.The author’s view on the possible solutions to the problems identified during the study is given.

The importance and role of the non-profit organization "Association of colleges and technical schools of transport", which has become a collegial body representing and defending the interests of a single educational community of railway colleges and technical schools working in the interests of the country's strategic industry, are considered. Today, the Association of colleges and technical schools of transport unites more than 50 educational organizations in the system of transport secondary vocational education. The main mission of the Association of colleges and technical schools of transport has been determined — coordination and organization of the activities of educational organizations, meeting the growing requirements of the industry for the quality of training qualified specialists of secondary vocational education, promoting the interests of transport education, including in matters of legal regulation of the implementation of tasks in the field of training specialists middle management. The factors providing the relevance and viability of the system of secondary vocational education of transport education are given. The prospects of the system of sectoral secondary vocational education are noted: the ability to quickly and disciplined rebuild, to effectively respond to the challenges of the time; the cohesion of the secondary vocational education system, manifested in the work of the Association of colleges and technical schools of transport — the coordinator and leading center of railway colleges and technical schools. A separate direction in the work of industry education is shown — participation in the WorldSkills movement in the context of the associated partnership of universities with the “Agency for the Development of Professional Communities and Workers Young Professionals (WorldSkills Russia)”. The growing role of industry education in the WorldSkills Russia movement, which today is becoming a locomotive for professional education, is indicated.

The role of the non-profit organization “Association of colleges and technical schools of transport” in solving problems related to the modernization of transport education is considered. Today the Association is an effective tool for feedback with educational organizations in promoting innovative projects in the field of education.Association pays special attention to coordinating the development of new industry competencies WorldSkills.The need for the creation of new competencies is revealed, as a rule, in preparation for a new championship cycle, the introduction of demonstration exam technologies or the development of the championship movement in production, in a region or a university.The idea of joining efforts with colleges and technical schools of sea and river transport of industrial university complexes within the framework of the Association, which is actively supported by the Ministry of Transport of Russia, is becoming significant. This is a further perspective, the next step in the development of the Association.To do together what we cannot do alone is the leitmotif of the activities of the Association, which opens up the opportunity for all members of the Association to reach new educational frontiers.