One of the most important directions in the development of the system of secondary vocational education at the present stage is the need to constantly update the content and technologies of vocational education in accordance with current and future requirements for the qualifications of workers. Significant assistance in improving the quality of training of specialists can be provided by the development of international cooperation in the implementation of secondary vocational education programs. Establishing such cooperation will make it possible to take into account advanced foreign experience, increase the attractiveness of educational institutions of secondary vocational education among potential applicants, and bring programs of secondary vocational education to the international market of educational services.To date, international cooperation has received the greatest development in the fi eld of higher education, master’s and postgraduate programs.The experience of international cooperation of the Chelyabinsk Institute of Railways — a branch of the Ural State University of Railways is considered. Information is provided on the main areas of international cooperation, including the search for potential partners among foreign educational organizations, with the subsequent formalization of relationships within the framework of international cooperation agreements, as well as the experience of implementing events within the framework of signed agreements, including the organization of joint international events of educational, scientifi c and sports orientation, work to improve the professional competencies of the personnel potential of Chelyabinsk Institute of Railways — a branch of the Ural State University of Railways through the internships of teachers in educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Today, an urgent problem for applicants and employers is to obtain complete and reliable information about the quality of training of students by educational organizations of various levels, including secondary vocational education. One of the most demanded tools is an independent assessment of the quality of education and the creation of ratings of educational organizations. Of interest are the ratings generated by employers, which do not assess formal signs of compliance of the conditions for the implementation of the educational process with regulatory requirements, but include indicators that allow assessing the level of graduates ‘compliance with employers' requirements and the demand for graduates in the transport industry.The All-Russian Industry Association of Railway Transport Employers (Zheldortrans) this year for the first time held a rating of educational organizations that implement programs of secondary vocational education in railway specialties. This rating included the main indicators that allow assessing the quality of personnel training for railway transport enterprises. Information about the goals and criteria of rating formation, as well as its results is provided. According to the results of the work of the expert commission, formed from representatives of Zheldor-trans and the Russian Railways holding, the Chelyabinsk Institute of Railways, a branch of the Ural State University of Railways, was recognized as the best educational organization that implements training programs for specialists in secondary vocational education in the areas of rail transport.