Embry-Riddle, China University Sign Pact on Cooperative Education
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University issued the following news release:
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide's Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. John Watret, recently made a trip to Tianjin, China to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of the Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC). While in China, Dr. Watret also presided over the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to educate future aviation and aerospace professionals in cooperation between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach and the CAUC in Tianjin. Following last year's successful agreement with the Republic of Singapore's Royal Air Force and SIM University, this move solidifies ERAU's position within the rapidly growing aviation sector in East Asia. As the world's leading institution of higher education that specializes in aviation and aerospace, Embry-Riddle's most recent agreement with China, signed on Sept. 17, signals that aviation and aerospace growth in East Asia shows no sign of slowing down.
"At Embry-Riddle, we are aware of the challenges that China faces in meeting the phenomenal growth in aviation. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has projected that the next 20 years will continue to be the 'golden era' for China's aviation sector," stated Dr. Watret in a speech during the MoU signing ceremony. "This expansion is evidenced by the growth in regional and general aviation in China. In 2001, China had a general aviation fleet of only 372 aircraft. Today, this number has increased by a factor of three. Furthermore, the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) has estimated that by 2015 the level of direct employment from regional and general aviation will have risen from 26,300 to 60,000 [workers]," Watret added.
With other sectors in the Chinese aviation economy also expected to achieve rapid growth, the need for the country's leading aviation and aerospace education institution (CAUC) to team with Embry-Riddle was deemed paramount. Deputy Aviation Administrator Li Jian recently noted, "The current development level of general aviation is unable to keep pace with China's social and economic development needs." Embry-Riddle's partnership with the CAUC will be responsible for ensuring the development of a highly trained and professional workforce ready to meet this growing need.
The joint program between ERAU and the CAUC will enable students to attend the first three years of the program at CAUC in China, and then study for the final two years at ERAU in Daytona Beach, Florida. Upon graduation, students will have earned a Bachelor of Science from CAUC and a Master of Science from ERAU. Both institutions are committed to ensuring that competent aviation personnel are available in China, the United States, and the world to manage and maintain the 21st century global air transportation system. Just two weeks ago, aviation administration and government officials from China visited Houston, Texas to take part in a week-long training exercise led by Embry-Riddle's Worldwide division in cooperation with the Houston Airport System. The purpose of this comprehensive program was to bring Chinese aviation up to speed with the latest practices in airport management, logistics, and technology. According to Asian Aviation magazine, China is the world's fastest-growing aviation market with about 50 airports currently under construction or in the planning process.
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