GOI plans an aviation university
September 16th, 2007
Following are excerpts from an Economic Times report.
the Prime Minister’s Office has primed the ministry of civil aviation to draft a policy document for setting up an ‘aviation university’ on the lines of international institutions.
Ministry sources say that the proposed university will be a registered autonomous body and its administration will be based on the lines of IITs and IIMs. The ministry is also forming a group of experts to examine the various models for setting up the university. The varsity will initially be located in Delhi and Mumbai which accounts for more than 50% of the air traffic.
The move has been initiated after the PMO asked the ministry to look into this issue. “The civil aviation sector is growing at the rate of 35-40% in the country and the industry is facing a crunch of skilled manpower in all departments.
If we have to compete as an international hub, we need to have the best trained manpower. The sector has the potential to absorb more than three million jobs directly by 2020 and this will further supplement the direct growth of this sector,” said a senior ministry official.
The expert panel that will work on the university project, will have eight members, consisting of a vice-chancellor of a renowned uni versity, officials of DGCA, HRD and the civil aviation ministry, and people from industry and aviation associations. The committee will first give shape to the objectives of setting up the aviation university and the broad areas and disciplines which will be covered by the curriculum such as gpround handling and technical training for pilots and engineers.
The expert committee will further advise the ministry on the modalities for private sector participation to bring in close coordination between the university and industry.
Besides setting up modalities, the group of experts will also study many international aviation universities which offer such courses. The faculty will have people from a diverse backgrounds such as those with professional aviation experience, including airlines, air traffic control, military, test pilot, and corporate aviation.
Orissa being one of the less dense- in terms of population – states, may be it can pursue this university. However, my guess is this will happen in Nagpur, one of the favorite area of the civil aviation minister, Mr. Praful Patel.
Entry Filed under: Odisha, others and the center,Other institutes