Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara Partners with Airbus to Boost Aerospace Education and Research
New Delhi, September 7, 2023: In a significant development for India’s aviation sector, Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus have entered into a collaborative agreement to strengthen aerospace education and research. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, with the presence of Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT, who also serves as the First Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya. The signing ceremony included Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of AIRBUS India and South Asia, and Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.
Airbus, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft and a leading producer of helicopters, defense, and space equipment, recently announced a partnership with Tata to establish a C295 aircraft facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. Airbus recognizes India’s importance as a global aviation hub and a valuable source of talent and resources. The company is committed to nurturing a fully integrated aerospace ecosystem in India as part of its “Make in India” strategy.
Speaking at the event, Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the focus of GSV on fostering strong industry-academia partnerships. He stated that all GSV courses would be designed in collaboration with industry experts, ensuring that students are industry-ready and highly sought after for employment in the transportation and logistics sectors. The MoU with Airbus marks a significant step toward achieving this goal.
Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, expressed Airbus’ commitment to investing in human capital development as it strives to develop the aerospace ecosystem in India. The partnership with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya will help create a skilled workforce capable of serving India’s rapidly growing aerospace sector.
This industry-academic collaboration will facilitate the development and delivery of sector-specific skilling courses and programs for both regular students and working professionals. It will also support joint research initiatives, offer industry experiences for faculty, provide internships and placements for students, and establish scholarship programs. The collaboration is expected to create approximately 15,000 job opportunities for students, aligning with industry requirements.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara, established through an Act of Parliament in 2022, is dedicated to producing highly skilled manpower for the entire transportation and logistics sectors. Sponsored by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, and led by Chancellor Ashwini Vaishnaw, GSV aims to fulfill the mandates of the National Developmental Plans, including the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and the National Logistics Policy 2022, spanning railways, shipping, ports, highways, roads, waterways, and aviation.
As an industry-driven and innovation-led university, GSV already boasts numerous collaborations with leading institutions and industries worldwide, positioning itself as a pioneer in the field of transportation and logistics education and research.
