ST Aerospace partners Singapore Polytechnic to develop talents for aerospace industry

Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) today signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MOC) at the Singapore Airshow 2012 to co-operate in the training and development of specialists focusing on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems.

Students from SP’s diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (DARE) and Aerospace Electronics Engineering (DASE) will benefit from the collaboration, with ST Aerospace‘s commitment to fund a series of projects. The agreement includes industrial training programmes that will see students attached to ST Aerospace as part of their polytechnic education, with the chance to work on real-life industrial projects to prepare them for the working world upon graduation.

As part of the collaboration, ST Aerospace and SP will work closely on a series of projects relating to airframe design and development of key sub-systems in the UAV systems.

“At Singapore Polytechnic, we are committed to providing our students with authentic and industry-relevant training. This collaboration with ST Aerospace will provide an excellent and challenging platform for our students to soar to greater heights. They will have opportunities to be involved in solving real life industrial problems and experiencing what it takes to work with ST Aerospace, one of Singapore’s top aerospace companies.”
                                                                                                                                          ~ Mr TAN Hang Cheong, Principal, Singapore Polytechnic

“ST Aerospace has always been supportive of the training and development of aerospace talents in places where we operate. With a strong in-house engineering design and development team of over 400 engineers and experience in developing unmanned air systems, we are looking forward to working closely with Singapore Polytechnic to nurture talents specifically in the UAV area.”
                                                                                                                                                        ~ CHANG Cheow Teck, President, ST Aerospace

To simulate a realistic working environment for its students, SP has invested significantly in two state-of-the-art aero-laboratories. These laboratories are well-equipped with aircraft systems, engines and components. It also houses a full Cessna 310 aircraft and an A4 Super Skyhawk for hands-on learning and application. SP has also embarked on a journey in Research and Development in areas of autonomous UAVs, Propulsion Systems and Motion Simulators. SP has built its own Full Motion Interchangeable Cockpit Simulator System, UAVs, Pulsejet and afterburner propulsion systems.

Singapore’s aerospace industry achieved an output of $7.2b and employed over 18,000 professionals and skilled workers in 2010. The setting up of Seletar Aerospace Park by 2018 is expected to contribute $3.3b annually in value-add and create 10,000 new aerospace-related jobs.
Responding to the industry’s call for a strong talent pool, ST Aerospace has been collaborating with local education institutions in the training and development of aerospace professionals. Additionally, ST Aerospace has a dedicated technical training centre managing its internal training and certification programmes.