Short courses for aerospace professionals take off successfully at Dubai Aerospace University

Training Journal, March, 2007

Dubai Aerospace University (DAU) is flying high after successfully delivering its first seminar designed to develop the skills and knowledge of aerospace professionals.

The four-day seminar on international air law and regulation was the first in a series of short courses being offered by DAU--the education and training arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise--as part of moves to expand its aviation education programme.

It was conducted by Dr George Williams, a senior lecturer in air transport at Cranfield University in the UK, and solicitor Carole Blackshaw, who specialises in aviation at the London law firm Denton Wilde Sapte and who has been a visiting lecturer at Cranfield for 20 years.

The course looked at regulation of the international civil air transport industry, focusing on the likely impact of deregulation and liberalisation.

Dr George Ebbs, president of DAU, said: "We are delighted that lecturers of the calibre and standing of Dr Williams and Carole Blackshaw, both respected authors as well as lecturers in their field, have been available to our students. Our mission is to offer world-class educational programmes for the aerospace industry and, in offering these short courses, we are able to do so in a flexible format that meets the needs of professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and develop their careers."

Among the attendees at the seminar, held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, was Jack Romero, CEO of the United Arab Emirates airline RAK Airways. He said: "Education plays a major role for the future generation of leaders. RAK Airways is proud to be part of this development process and, for us, education in the transportation industry is key to securing the aviation managers of tomorrow.

"Thanks to Dubai Aerospace University and Cranfield University's partnership, this process will go from strength to strength."

DAU opened its doors last October. It is the first of its kind in the Middle East to offer Masters and Doctoral programmes in aerospace-focused business and engineering, through its partnership with Cranfield University. It is one of the six divisions of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, which was established last February and is building a global aerospace, manufacturing and services corporation based at Dubai World Central.