Dublin City University (DCU) and daa International have come together to establish the Dublin Aviation Institute, a new joint venture designed to deliver global leadership in aviation education and research.
Based at Dublin Airport and DCU, the Dublin Aviation Institute will work closely with industry partners to support the growth of the sector and the increasing professionalisation of its workforce.
The Dublin Aviation Institute has been created through an innovative partnership between DCU and daa International and is a significant development for the international aviation sector. The Dublin Aviation Institute will enable students to experience a unique combination of academic excellence and a live airport environment, which will enhance and complement their overall learning experience.
The new facility will deliver a comprehensive suite of programmes and courses across the entire spectrum of the aviation industry, from professional standards/compliance training based on international standards to fully accredited degree programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The Dublin Aviation Institute will begin offering courses from next year and it is expected that students will come from Ireland and overseas.
The new educational joint venture was officially launched this morning by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, who congratulated DCU and daa International on the initiative. “Aviation plays a key role in the Irish economy and I’m delighted to see Dublin Airport and DCU working together to further enhance the sector both at home and abroad. The Dublin Aviation Institute is an excellent example of how Irish industry can partner with third level institutions to deliver educational programmes that match the needs of both employers and students, while improving the prospects for our future economic development.”
DAA Chief Executive Kevin Toland said that through its training and educational activities, daa International was committed to developing careers for aviation professionals and creating a workforce that would continue to make the aviation industry safe, secure and sustainable. “Together with DCU we can provide the living-laboratory experience of an airport, combined with the academic excellence of a young, dynamic university, to deliver global leadership in aviation education and research. There is significant international demand for this type of education and training and Dublin is the perfect location for such a centre.”
Dublin City University President, Professor Brian MacCraith said the university’s new partnership with daa International leveraged the strengths and expertise of the two organisations. “Through world-class research, education and training, we will work together to support the development of a dynamic, aviation industry both in Ireland and internationally. As Ireland’s University of Enterprise, DCU looks forward to engaging with all aspects of the aviation sector; educating its future leaders and helping shape its future direction. We’re also delighted to be working with one of our closest neighbours Dublin Airport on this new venture and we look forward to a very successful partnership with daa International.”
daa International was established in 2013 as a new subsidiary of DAA. It provides management services to investors in the international airport industry and also offers accredited airport and aviation training through its Dublin International Aviation Training Academy arm. It has already been accredited by major international aviation bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI).
Within the aviation industry it is well recognised that there is likely to be a severe shortage of skilled aviation professionals in the near future. In the next 20 years, global airlines will add an estimated 25,000 new aircraft to a current commercial fleet of 17,000. By 2026, over 350,000 pilots will be needed to fly the aircraft and close to half a million technical experts will be needed to maintain them. The aviation industry anticipates that, in the absence of succession and continuity planning, it will see its numbers severely depleted as many in the aviation community approach retirement, or move to pursue career opportunities in other industries.
daa International is already proving Dublin’s potential as a major international aviation training centre, as the company recently won a contract to train staff from the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC). More than 100 OAMC employees will come to Dublin Airport for specialist training and development over the next 18 months.
