Airbus Group Signs Partnership Agreements with Universities

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Airbus Group has signed partnership agreements with seven leading European aeronautics and engineering universities to ensure students graduate with the skills required by industry to face future challenges generated by a more complex and competitive environment. A signing ceremony took place at the Paris Air Show in the presence of the universities’ representatives and senior Airbus Group management.

The seven strategic partners are the University Carlos III in Madrid, the University of Seville, the Technical University of Madrid, France’s Institute Mines-Telecom, Delft University of Technology, the Technical University of Milan and the University of Bristol.

 “These partnership agreements underline our commitment to work hand-in-hand with academics and engineering education leaders to develop and secure the competences that the aerospace industry will need in the future,” said Thierry Baril, Chief Human Resources Officer of Airbus Group. “Developing a talent pipeline is vital to our success. We are proud to partner with such prestigious universities to pursue this objective”.

The agreements aim to foster long-term collaboration in all areas of mutual interest includingthe development of strategic competences, both technical and soft skills (e.g. Complex Systems, Architecture and Integration; Networks and Content Security; Supplier Assessment and Development; Manufacturing and Engineering; Programme and Project Management; Quality and Improvement), the development of common educational programmes, designing student competitions and support to encourage diversity.

In the frame of these agreements, Airbus Group has also committed to develop a dedicated internship programme that will aim to develop these competences in-house.

The signatures are part of a wider initiative known as the Airbus Group University Partner Programme, which involves more than 20 universities from more than 10 countries. Representatives of the universities met Airbus Group Human Resources and business representatives at the Air Show to ensure that industry and academic requirements converge and help engineering students develop the most appropriate skills they will need in industry. During the 3-day event in Paris, the key themes addressed were Internships, Innovation and defining the “Engineer of the Future”.

In the context of this programme, Airbus Group aims to sign more university partnership agreements before the end of the year. Anticipation and collaboration with universities will help to secure Airbus Group’s capacity to innovate in the future. The company is committed to provide development and learning opportunities for young people and currently welcomes 2,800 trainees and a further 4,000 apprentices around the world.

Airbus Group

Airbus Group is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2014, the Group – comprising Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters – generated revenues of € 60.7 billion and employed a workforce of around 138,600.