DUBAI - The new aerospace academy of the University of South Wales, USW, was officially opened in Dubai South last night.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, DCAA, Chairman and Chief Executive at Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of Dubai Airports; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance; and Professor Julie Lydon OBE, USW Vice-Chancellor, officially inaugurated the academy.
During the event, Sheikh Nahyan was officially recognised as USW’s International Patron, with Honorary Doctorates conferred on both him and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed by the University’s Pro-Chancellor, Professor John Andrews CBE.
The specialist aerospace engineering facility will initially offer KHDA-approved programmes including BSc (Hons) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering with integrated European Aviation Safety Agency/ General Civil Aviation Authority (EASA/GCAA) Simplify to Tech training; BSc (Hons) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering top-up degree and foundation course, through which a student can gain the right qualifications to move onto the degree programme.
The purpose-built 3,000-square metre facility at the Dubai South Business Park has state-of-the-art learning and teaching space over two storeys, including an EASA/GCAA accredited workshop with an aircraft and CFM56-3 jet engine, mechanical principles laboratories and soundproofed maintenance areas. A dedicated laboratory space for electronic practical tasks and avionics systems are also a key feature that will provide hands-on practical experience for students and composite-based equipment to produce sample materials. The tooling has been provided through a strategic partnership with Snap-on Tools Industrial.
Today’s launch event is the culmination of a two-year project, which followed the signing of a Memorandum of Co-operation with DACC, the parent organisation of Dubai South, in May 2016.
"Dubai South’s journey to become the world’s major aviation hub is well underway. Our recognition as a leader in the field of aircraft maintenance engineering education meant that we were a natural choice to be at the centre of the on-site education development, and we are pleased to have been selected to establish this partnership with Dubai South," Professor Lydon said.
Dubai South is a planned city of one million people located next to Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become the world’s largest airport, handling an estimated 220 million passengers and 16 million tonnes of cargo each year, close to Jebel Ali Seaport and adjacent to the Dubai South Logistics District. Dubai South’s 6.7sq km Aviation District is the permanent home of the Dubai Airshow and the Middle East Business Aviation Show.
Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, DACC and Dubai South, stated, "Our partnership with USW further boosts Dubai South’s position as an emerging global aviation hub, and establishes Dubai as a leader in the region for education related to aviation and innovation that will upskill the UAE’s workforce. The future of the region’s aviation sector is unfolding right before us with the opening of the University of South Wales aerospace academy. This new development is set to open doors for the next generation of aviation experts in the UAE by being strategically located right at the doorstep of the world’s largest airport, it provides students with a combined experience of academic rigour and hands-on training in an ideal setting at Dubai South."
© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2018.
