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Aerospace postgraduates win £6m Government fund

Postgraduate degrees in aerospace engineering have been allocated £6m of Government funding to help develop the aerospace sector.

500 graduates and employees will be granted bursaries to carry out a Masters degree (MSc), which the Government says will help develop the industry on a global level.

Opening on Thursday, the fund will offer students a bursary of up to £9,500 to cover tuition fees, in a bid to recruit more talented people into the aerospace industry.

£3m of Government funding was met by the UK aerospace industry as part of the Aerospace Growth Partnership, which was launched in July last year to boost growth, jobs and exports.

BAE Systems, Bombardier Aerospace (Belfast), EADS/Airbus, Finmeccanica, GKN, MBDA Missile Systems, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, Rolls-Royce and Spirit AeroSystems all came together to sponsor the scheme, along with the Department for Employment and Learning in the Northern Ireland Administration.

Business Secretary Vince Cable commented: “There is a serious shortage of engineers in the UK. Our aerospace industry is a world-leader, but unless we create a new generation of engineers we’ll struggle to keep ahead of the competition.

“Today’s announcement will help us meet this demand. The funding will further train quality engineering graduates, widening access to the industry to talented people from all backgrounds.”

“Upskilling” is a major part of the Government initiative to enhance the aerospace industry, and students currently studying for undergraduate courses will be supported into postgraduate education through the scheme.

The Government said students will be encouraged to form relationships with aerospace companies to tackle issues the industry currently faces, and to secure work experience placements to further their careers.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of aerospace firm, ADS Group, added: “Investment in developing world class skills is critical for the future of the UK aerospace industry.

“This joint commitment of funding from government and industry to create this initiative is an important step – both in securing valuable high-level skills and in taking the successful Aerospace Growth Partnership forward.”

The Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Philip Greenish, CBE commented:“Strengthening the supply of skilled people in key areas of technology such as aerospace engineering is essential for a sustainable economic recovery and to ensure that the UK continues to be a leader in advanced design and manufacturing.

“This programme will make a swift and positive impact on the industry, which needs people with the high level engineering skills provided by UK universities. The men and women who pass through the scheme will go on to work at the cutting edge of aviation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .