The National Highway Institute’s (NHI) strategic priorities align with transportation innovation and help advance robust training programs to support that alignment. NHI’s strategies include emphasizing its brand and story, forging strong partnerships, engaging stakeholders, prioritizing wellness, and embracing technology and innovation. These priorities guide its learner-centric philosophy and mission to create a knowledgeable and forward-thinking workforce that supports safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation systems.

Narrative of Excellence

NHI has grown from its modest beginnings that included a handful of basic trainings and instructors to become an institute with an extensive course catalog organized into 18 program areas and delivered in three unique training formats, all of which can be found on NHI’s website at https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/. These efforts ensure NHI’s offerings remain relevant to the transportation community.

Building Bridges to Success

By collaborating with Federal, State, and local agencies; private industry leaders; and other educational institutions, NHI leverages expertise and resources to help its learners. Partnerships empower NHI to create learning modules and learner-centric delivery methods. NHI and its partners address the complex transportation challenges facing the world, ensuring learners have the knowledge and skills they need for success. 

NHI exemplified successful collaboration through its recent presentation at the 2024 National Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Annual Conference. Through an agreement with the National Local and Tribal Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA), NHI shared a list of courses tailored to the needs and interests of the attendees, encouraging the use of relevant and impactful NHI offerings.

Changing Together

NHI’s learner-centric model is shaped by valuable feedback from course instructors and hosts, course participants, and partners in Federal, State, and local transportation agencies. NHI’s inclusive approach ensures that courses and initiatives meet our audience’s evolving needs and expectations.

NHI hosts regular forums and workshops to facilitate dialogue and gather feedback. For example, at the NLTAPA 2024 conference, Stacey Caston, NHI’s director, and Lauren Harrington, a Federal Highway Administration instructional systems designer and contractor, led a masterclass on strategies for maintaining learner engagement. The session included sharing insights, discussing challenges, and exploring solutions to address broader communication concerns with learners.

Nurturing Wellness

NHI prioritizes the wellness of its community, recognizing that a healthy workforce is essential for delivering high-quality education and fostering active learning. Circle of Learning, the learner-centric model outlined in the following document, https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/docs/circle_of_learning.pdf, empowers everyone to excel by providing the resources and guidance for success.

Transportation Future

NHI is committed to fostering innovative solutions that enhance the Nation’s transportation system and empower individuals to learn and improve that system. As part of its belief in the power of technology to aid people in their lives, NHI has upgraded its services to a new learning management system (LMS), located on its website at https://fhwanhi.geniussis.com/RegistrationByCourse.aspx#. The new LMS offers a comprehensive range of courses and functionalities designed to equip learners with the skills they need to excel in their transportation careers.

Leading the Way

NHI’s strategic priorities serve as a roadmap for achieving superior outcomes for learners, instructors, and the future of transportation worldwide. By emphasizing its brand and story, forging strong partnerships, engaging stakeholders, prioritizing wellness, and embracing technology and innovation, NHI is paving the way forward for current and future generations of highway transportation professionals. For more information about NHI course offerings, visit NHI’s website at https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx.

Jonathan Strauss is a senior communications specialist and contractor for FHWA.