Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd
and Singapore Polytechnic signed a Memorandum of Co-operation at the Singapore Airshow 2012 to co-operate in the training and development of specialists focusing on Unmanned Aircraft 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 UA 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,” said 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 UAS area,” commented 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 UAS, Propulsion Systems and Motion Simulators. SP has built its own Full Motion Interchangeable Cockpit Simulator System, UAS, 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.
Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Singapore’s first polytechnic, was established in 1954 to meet the manpower needs identified by the government. Its 10 academic schools offer 49 full-time diploma courses for its 15,500 students and courses are kept relevant through close links with industry and government bodies, as well as with various overseas institutions. SP offers broad-based, multi-disciplinary and flexible curriculum dedicated to hands-on experience. It is committed to the development of its applied research and development capabilities to enhance the quality of teaching and commercialisation efforts. Through Design Thinking, SP offers a revolutionary approach to education, allowing its students to look at problems from different perspectives, and strike a dynamic balance between intuitive and analytical thinking to provide impactful solutions.
Among SP’s 160,000 graduates are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multinational and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals, many of whom are captains of industries, university professors and researchers, and leaders in government.
SP is the first polytechnic to be awarded the President’s Award for the Environment in 2010 and the President’s Social Service Award in 2011.
ST Aerospace (Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd) is the aerospace arm of ST Engineering. Operating a global MRO network with facilities in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, it is the world’s largest aircraft MRO provider with a global customer base that includes leading airlines, airfreight and military operators. ST Aerospace is an integrated service provider that offers a spectrum of maintenance and engineering services that include airframe, engine and component maintenance, repair and overhaul; engineering design and technical services; and aviation materials and management services, including Total Aviation Support. ST Aerospace has a global staff strength of more than 8,000 engineers and technical specialists.
Source: Press Release