October 1, 2012, Cardiff, United Kingdom – British Airways Engineering, a leading Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) provider, has today announced that it is partnering with the University of Glamorgan to offer a BSc degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. The partnership will see University of Glamorgan students receive a BSc degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering having also completed the industry-standard EASA Part 66 training under British Airways’ certification license. The initiative, to be accredited by the CAA, will also provide British Airways Engineering employees with the opportunity to study academic modules from the University of Glamorgan at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Bill Kelly, General Manager Heavy Maintenance at British Airways Engineering commented: "We are delighted to be forming this relationship with the University of Glamorgan. British Airways Engineering employs over 1400 people across three sites in South Wales, and this partnership will ensure that we continue to produce world class engineers, ready to take on the challenge of maintaining our fleets as well as those of our commercial customers. This is an exciting time for airlines, with next generation aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 presenting new challenges for our engineers. Partnering with the University of Glamorgan will allow us to develop the skills necessary to take our business forward."
Professor Julie Lydon, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Glamorgan, commented: “As the largest airline in the UK and a global player in the aviation market, British Airways Engineering takes its relationship with education seriously. This initiative cements their links with Glamorgan, and we hope to develop our partnership further in the coming months. It’s a win-win for British Airways Engineering, the University, and the graduates. This partnership is the only one of its kind in the UK, and is a testament to Glamorgan’s reputation for excellence in the aviation industry. The University of Glamorgan is well recognised for being home to first-class facilities, and for producing graduates of an exceptional standard. Our partnership with British Airways Engineering is sure to give them a head start in their careers.”
The University of Glamorgan will open its doors to the first 100 students scheduled for its Aircraft Maintenance Degree this October.
About British Airways Engineering
British Airways Engineering has over 80 years’ experience of providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services to British Airways and global airlines. The company has invested in state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance, avionic, interiors and mechanical workshop facilities and has a worldwide reputation for engineering excellence. In addition to experience gained on all major Boeing and Airbus models, British Airways Engineering has developed capabilities for the B787 and Airbus 380 aircraft types.
About the University of Glamorgan
Founded by industry, for industry as a centre of engineering and management in 1913, the University of Glamorgan is a key international partner of major public and private sector employers. Rated in the UK’s top ten universities for the lowest rate of unemployment among its graduates, 93% of Glamorgan students are in work or further study within six months of graduating. With 23,000 students from 122 countries on campuses in Cardiff and the South Wales valleys, the University includes two wholly owned subsidiaries, The College at Merthyr Tydfil and Wales’ national conservatoire, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. With a strong commitment to social justice, Glamorgan opens opportunities to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and is a leading partner in UHOVI, the pioneering Universities’ Heads of the Valleys Institute. With 70% of its research recognised as being of international standing, Glamorgan is one of the five members of the St David’s Day Group of Wales’s leading research-active universities. It plays a key role informing the policy debate on sustainable energy, the creative industries, public service reform, and economic growth. The University is an international leader in the use of ICT and simulation to deliver professional learning: facilities include its own airliner, court room, financial trading floor, HD television studios, computer animation renderfarm, scene of crime house, hospital simulation suite, and police control room.
