IIT Guwahati and Airbus India join hands to expand aviation and logistics education in Assam | Education

The collaboration is the result of productive discussions with officials from the Transport, Skills and Industries Departments of the Government of Assam.

To this end, a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was signed between Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, and Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus India Private Limited.

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The event was attended by numerous dignitaries including Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma. Among others were Principal Secretary Dr. S. Ravi Kota, Ashutosh Agrawal, Director, Strategy and Business Development, Aftermarket, and Sumeet Singh Manglotra, Regional Business Leader, Airbus Beyond, Airbus India and South Asia, along with Professor Parameswar K. Iyer, Dean, PRBR, IIT Guwahati.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sarma said that the partnership in aviation logistics and allied areas will not only promote knowledge sharing but will also shape the future of the aviation industry.

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The Chief Minister added that the collaboration will focus on key areas such as transportation, hospitality, training and logistics, each with significant growth potential.

“I assure the IIT family that students participating in these programmes will be provided with adequate scholarships to help them excel in pursuing new careers,” Chief Minister Sarma said.

Welcoming the guests, IIT Guwahati Director Prof. Devendra Jalihal said the transformational partnership with Airbus not only aligns with the institute’s vision for advanced education in aviation and logistics but also addresses the urgent need for skilled professionals in these critical sectors.

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“This initiative will empower the youth of Assam and the Northeast region, fostering innovation, economic growth and a brighter future for all,” he added.

Suraj Chettri, Vice President and Head, Human Resources, Airbus India and South Asia, and Site Director, Airbus India Private Limited, Bangalore, stressed that India and the rest of the world need skilled human resources at a large scale to drive exponential growth of the aviation industry.

“We will continue to invest in developing a skilled workforce in India, working closely with the Government of India and various state governments to unleash the full potential of the Indian aviation sector. Together, we aim to lay the foundation for sustainable growth and global leadership in aviation,” he added.

Collaboration highlights

Below are some of the highlights of the partnership:

• To leverage combined expertise and resources to develop comprehensive programs that will boost aviation education and training in the North East region of India.
• IIT Guwahati will organize courses, recruit students and provide necessary infrastructure and logistical support.
• IIT Guwahati will set up a Global Training Centre in Aviation and Logistics that will address the acute shortage of skilled professionals in the logistics sector, which is essential for the growth of global trade.
• The centre will also offer comprehensive training and development programmes to equip people with the skills needed to meet the demands of the industry.
• The partnership with Airbus India Private Limited also aims to enhance employment opportunities and career advancement of people in the North East region, while improving the quality of service in the aviation and logistics industries.
• In the initial phase, Airbus will supply trainers, training materials and tools from the Airbus Beyond catalogue for short-term courses.
• Airbus will enable IIT Guwahati faculty to undertake “Train the Trainer” programmes, enabling them to deliver Airbus courses independently while maintaining the curriculum, materials and tools.
• The association also plans to co-organize long-term courses in the later phase.

It is worth mentioning here that the entire programme will be established at IIT Guwahati, with the guidance and close coordination of the Government of Assam and all the state governments of the North-Eastern region. It will be targeted at students from across the region and neighbouring states.

According to a press release, the partnership falls under the Government of India’s Udaan programme, which aims to foster development and socio-economic reforms across the country.