Urban Mobility & Talent: An Interview with Gautam Rao on Preparing the Next Generation
We sat down with Gautam, one of the minds behind Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) – the open learning platform by EIT Urban Mobility – to get insights into mobility trends, professional growth, and how you can dive into this fast-moving sector.
Gautam Rao, Head of Professional School @ EIT Urban Mobility
What skills do you really need to thrive in the future of sustainable cities? How can young professionals access expert knowledge without breaking the bank?
Anna: “Gautam, thank you for joining me today. Let’s start with a bit of background – What do you do at UMX by EIT Urban Mobility? “
Gautam: “It is a pleasure to be here, Anna. My journey with UMX began about five years ago, and I currently lead the department focused on developing impactful training courses, programs, and content for mobility professionals. Our core mission at UMX is to empower these professionals to drive innovation and sustainability in urban mobility.
We bridge the "knowledge gap" by collaborating with a diverse range of experts, including instructional designers, technicians, content-experts, leading European universities, and specialised consultancy firms. This collaboration allows us to build hand-on, practical and impact-oriented training experiences. Our aim is to ensure that both current and future mobility professionals acquire the essential knowledge and skills to create mobility solutions that enhance urban living and sustainability. After all, mobility plays a critical role in a city's carbon footprint, and it is imperative that we work all together to make our cities more liveable.
Having a background in professional learning, I was particularly drawn to EIT Urban Mobility and the creation of UMX. I firmly believe in UMX's purpose, and I find it incredibly rewarding to work alongside a team of dedicated professionals to develop resources that shape and support the growth of mobility professionals.”
UMX by EIT Urban Mobility provides Free access to 45+ expert-led, high-impact online courses designed to equip young professionals with the skills to thrive in sustainable urban mobility.
Anna: I’m thrilled that we’ve started this collaboration with the Young Mobility Network – and the fact that the online courses are self-paced, designed by leading urban mobility experts, cover all key topics in urban mobility – and free to enrol and complete – this is an incredible offering. What do you see as the biggest benefit of participating in UMX courses, especially for young professionals just entering the industry?
Gautam: “This is an exciting time to be entering the mobility sector. Historically, mobility was a rather static field, characterized by distinct silos: public transport, private vehicles, and public institutions overseeing policy and infrastructure. However, the past couple of decades have brought about rapid and transformative changes. We are witnessing the rise of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), Digital Twins, drones, e-scooters, autonomous driving, etc. – a whole host of innovations that are reshaping how we move.
For young professionals, this dynamism presents both challenges and incredible opportunities. UMX serves as an excellent starting point to navigate this complex landscape.”
Here is how I see young professionals can leverage UMX:
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The UMX YouTube channel offers easily digestible videos (2-10 minutes) showcasing mobility trends and best practices from cities across Europe and the world. It is perfect for staying informed on the go.
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Our online course platform, www.urbanmobilitycourses.eu, hosts over 45 online courses that provide in-depth knowledge of specific mobility concepts, technologies, and innovative practices. These courses allow for a more structured and comprehensive learning experience. We publish new courses every year.
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UMX also offers webinars and a blog, providing additional avenues for learning and engagement.
Gautam: “By utilising all these free resources, young professionals can gain a solid understanding of the evolving mobility landscape, identify their specific interests, and focus their career paths accordingly. In essence, UMX empowers them to turn the challenge of a rapidly changing industry into a significant career advantage. The variety of content, formats, and the accessibility of free resources make UMX a valuable asset for young professionals. “
Developed by leading European experts, these free online course give you practical, self-paced insights into shared mobility, smart cities, and last-mile logistics — with optional certificates starting at just €9!
Anna: “Mobility is such a broad and dynamic field – from micromobility to freight, from equity to data. It must be a challenge to curate this kind of content. Do you have a tip for young professionals on how to navigate this complexity and build a solid knowledge base?“
Gautam: “When faced with complexity, I often use what I call the "funnel model." This approach involves starting with a broad exploration to learn as much as possible, and then gradually narrowing your focus to what resonates most with you.“
For young mobility professionals, I recommend the following:
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Begin by exploring the diverse facets of mobility. This includes technical aspects like urban planning, mobility infrastructure, modes of transport, or mobility data, as well as societal and environmental considerations such as inclusive mobility, active mobility, or behavioural change in mobility patterns. UMX is an excellent platform for this initial exploration.
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Based on your initial exploration, identify the areas that spark your interest. It is perfectly fine to have multiple interests, such as the intersection of AI and sustainable city design, or active mobility and transport policy.
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Focus your learning and research on these specific areas. Seek out companies, organizations, and startups working in those fields. Attend webinars (the UMX webinars are great for connecting with professionals and asking questions), and consider more focused courses. UMX offers face-to-face courses for those seeking in-depth learning experiences.
Gautam: “In summary, I encourage young mobility professionals to adopt a funnel-based growth strategy: the more they explore and learn, the more they find subjects and topics that resonate with them, the clearer their path becomes, motivating them to delve even deeper and further.”
Anna: “One thing I love about UMX is how it tackles niche but essential topics. I saw you offer courses like “Streets for Kids” or “Cargo Bikes: Revolutionising Urban Delivery” – both incredibly relevant to building more inclusive and sustainable cities. Which course is your personal favourite, and which ones are the most popular on your platform?”
Gautam: “It is difficult to choose a single favourite, as we have a rich selection of great courses! However, one that I particularly enjoyed and found incredibly insightful is our course on "The Urban Heat Islands: How to tackle excess heat in cities".
Having lived in the city centres of Paris and Barcelona during most of my adult life, I have personally experienced the increasing intensity of summer heat and its growing impact on my well-being and on urban liveability in general. While I understood that climate change was a contributing factor, the course provided a deeper understanding of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, its causes, and its relationship with mobility and climate change.
In just a couple of hours, the course demystified this important topic to me and presented a range of solutions to mitigate the UHI effect and reduce urban temperatures. This knowledge became particularly relevant when the street next to my apartment in Barcelona underwent a redesign that prioritised pedestrians, reduced car traffic, and incorporated much more green spaces and shade. The course helped me fully appreciate the importance of these changes and their potential to alleviate the heat island effect in my neighbourhood. After the remodelling of this street was completed, it has become one of my favourite streets in the city and I make sure I walk through it as much as possible.
While most of our courses are designed to address specific challenges within the mobility sector, our most popular offering is arguably the "Fundamentals of Urban Mobility" course. This course provides an introduction to the core principles of urban mobility planning, emphasising how mobility choices profoundly impact every facet of city life – from economic efficiency and social inclusion to sustainability and overall quality of life. It highlights the transformative power of prioritising "mobility for all", rather than focusing solely on car users, in shaping more liveable urban environments. My personal belief is that the course's popularity likely stems from its ability to serve as an excellent entry point, both to the broader field of urban mobility and to the UMX platform itself, providing a solid foundation for professionals seeking direction and clarity.”
Choose a course that sparks your interest!
Anna: Let’s have a bit of fun. What’s one surprising or lesser-known trend in urban mobility that you think deserves more attention?
Gautam: “One lesser-known trend that has recently captured my attention is the rise of "intermediary vehicles." It is fascinating to consider the spectrum of options that now exist, between the traditional car and the bicycle.
Currently, there are five categories of these intermediary vehicles: minicars, microcars, bicycle-cars, cargo bikes and e-bikes. Cars, even electric or hydrogen-powered ones, offer long-distance travel but can be unsustainable, especially with single-occupancy. Bicycles are a much healthier and more sustainable option but have limitations in terms of distance and carrying capacity. Intermediary vehicles bridge this gap, providing a range of alternatives for traveling varying distances, carrying different loads, and achieving different levels of health and sustainability.
These solutions have the potential to revolutionise urban logistics, daily commuting, and household transportation choices, potentially enabling families to reduce their reliance on multiple cars. Personally, a few months ago, I decided to purchase a microcar instead of a traditional car and have been extremely happy with this decision.”
Anna: “Lastly – for all the young changemakers reading this: What’s one skill or mindset you think will be essential in the mobility field of tomorrow?”
Gautam: “While I believe this mindset is crucial for professionals in any field, I would emphasise the importance of cultivating a learning and growth mindset.
In our rapidly changing world, and particularly in the dynamic field of mobility, continuous learning is paramount. This involves not only formal education but also a willingness to experiment, take action, learn from both successes and failures, and iterate. It is also about continuously and passionately seeking out mentors, collaborators, and opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills.
In my opinion, the essential skill and mindset for the mobility professional of tomorrow is a genuine hunger for lifelong learning and personal and professional growth.”
Anna: “Thank you so much, Gautam! I’m sure our readers are already heading to the course platform. We can’t wait to continue this journey together.”
