Providing innovative Teacher Training to aviation sector and beyond

A new collaboration between the University of Huddersfield and the Aeros Group will provide, for the very first time, university-level Teacher Training offered via an aviation academy. Delivered at the Aeros Gloucestershire Airport campus, the training has been designed to provide innovative career opportunities for both aviation and non-aviation individuals whether or not they have an existing university degree

THE Aeros Group has recently announced the successful validation of their partnership with the University of Huddersfield to deliver a new gold-standard, pedagogical approach to aviation and education training, designed to provide innovative career opportunities both within and external to the aviation sector. 

The new partnership, negotiated by Dr Lynn Senior, Director of the Education and Training Consortium within the University’s School of Education and Professional Development and Aryan Arji, Aeros Group’s Director of Education, will enable the talents of current and potential aviation instructors to be fully recognised as qualified teachers by mainstream education and top industry training departments. 

“I am incredibly proud of this ground-breaking and innovative partnership which allows, for the very first time, university-level teacher training to be offered via an aviation academy. The ability for both aviation and non-aviation individuals to expand their qualifications and career opportunities demonstrates the forward thinking of both the University of Huddersfield and the Aeros Group.”

Nigel Orme, Aeros’ Director of Group Strategy & Partnerships.

Each year the Consortium, which includes more than 25 Further and Higher Education institutions across England, provides thousands of staff in the education and training sector with professional development and qualifications from the University, which has been recognised as a Higher Education Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training since 2007. 

Consortium members include Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Centres approved by the University to deliver its qualifications and who are allocated funded numbers by the Consortium to do so. 

Opening doors to career progression

The specialist PGCE and CertEd courses, which are to be provided by the University and delivered at the Aeros Gloucestershire Airport campus, offers routes for all aviation-related trainees and professionals, whether or not they have an existing university degree. 

They are designed to provide a competitive edge for individuals applying for initial airline employment, support the career progression of existing aviation professionals within the sector and ensure that successful graduates are also qualified to work in a wide range of non-aviation education and training roles at any point in the future, if they so desire.

Applicants will have the option of specialising in aviation-related as well as mainstream academic and vocational subjects, to reflect the highest aspirations of the individual. 

The courses are also available to individuals from a variety of non-aviation sectors, who wish to qualify and work in education and training, related to their own individual fields of expertise. 

In addition to funding being provided for tuition fees and living expenses through Student Finance, a tax-free Government bursary of up to £26,000, which is equivalent to a pre-tax salary of approximately £33,000, is available for applicants specialising in certain shortage subjects. 

Individuals may choose to focus on more than one subject, and applicants are welcome to specialise in both aviation training and mainstream education subjects, ensuring the widest possible employment opportunities. 

“This cutting-edge programme will not only make graduates more competitive for aviation sector careers, but also supports the career progression of current aviation professionals by further qualifying them to work in a wide range of areas such as the Education and Skills sector as well as top industry-level training departments.” 

Aryan Arji, Aeros Group’s Director of Education

The training courses offered, with the first intake starting September 2022, are: 

• Certificate in Education - CertEd
• Professional Graduate Certificate in Education - PGCE
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education – PGCE(M)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Education - PgDipE 

There will be two intakes annually and those engaged in the more advanced courses will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, Masters-level research, focusing on the effect of teaching and learning on aviation outcomes. 

The Aeros Group is the only UK CAA/EASA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) within the aviation sector to offer this level of teacher training within a university partnership. 

The University's Dr Lynn Senior, Consortium Director, said: “This is a really exciting partnership for the University and will provide professional training and recognition for instructors in the aviation sector with the added benefit of opening up opportunities to future career progression.” 

Nigel Orme, Aeros’ Director of Group Strategy & Partnerships, added: “I am incredibly proud of this ground-breaking and innovative partnership which allows, for the very first time, university-level teacher training to be offered via an aviation academy.

“The ability for both aviation and non-aviation individuals to expand their qualifications and career opportunities demonstrates the forward thinking of both the University of Huddersfield and the Aeros Group,” he said. 

Aryan Arji, Aeros Group’s Director of Education, concluded: “This cutting-edge programme will not only make graduates more competitive for aviation sector careers, but also supports the career progression of current aviation professionals by further qualifying them to work in a wide range of areas such as the Education and Skills sector as well as top industry-level training departments.” 

The Aeros Group will be making further announcements, including potential new FE partnerships to share expertise and support career progression for all stakeholders. 

• To enquire or enrol on this training, please contact education@aeros.co.uk.