Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara has partnered with Airbus to advance aerospace education and research in India. This collaboration, solidified through a definitive agreement signed at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, builds upon the initial memorandum of understanding inked in September 2023. The signing ceremony, attended by distinguished figures including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and IT and First Chancellor of GSV, alongside Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, and Ravneet Singh, Minister of State for Railways, witnessed the formalization of the agreement by RémiMaillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, and Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.

This collaboration entails a comprehensive framework, including initiatives such as a full scholarship program for 40 GSV students, establishment of a Centre of Excellence at GSV, and the introduction of the Airbus Aviation Chair Professorship. Additionally, GSV and Airbus will collaborate on executive training programs designed to enhance the skills of professionals in the aviation sector.

Speaking on the occasion Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw remarked, “Today signifies the transition from a Memorandum of Understanding to tangible action. Congratulations to GSV and Airbus for fulfilling their commitments, a hallmark of the Modi government. In the spirit of ‘SabkaSathSabkaVikas,’ we prioritize the integrated development of aviation, highways, railways, and road transportation. GSV was established to focus on and specialize in all sectors of transportation, starting with railways and expanding into manufacturing. Our next focus areas include civil aviation, followed by the Ministry of Shipping and Logistics. We will begin with targeted programs in each sector and expand progressively across the transportation spectrum.”

Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu expressed his satisfaction on the occasion of signing the MoU with Airbus, highlighting civil aviation as India’s fastest-growing sector. He said, “Over the past decade, the number of airports has nearly doubled from 74 to 157, thanks to initiatives like the Udaan scheme which have expanded aviation services to Tier II and Tier III cities”. He affirmed the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s commitment to mentorship in collaboration with railways and pledged full support for Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya in advancing the aviation sector, including plans to introduce Masters and Ph.D. programs.

Ravneet Singh spoke at the event, offering congratulations to GSV and Airbus on signing the MoU. He emphasized that this initiative would lead to enhanced job creation opportunities and help retain talent within the country, thus mitigating brain drain.

RémiMaillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus in India and South Asia, provided an update, stating, “Airbus currently employs approximately 3,500 full-time staff in India, predominantly comprising engineers and digital professionals. We additionally generate 15,000 jobs through our supply chain across the country. Our annual sourcing from India exceeds $1 billion, with plans to double this figure in the near future. We are in the process of constructing two Final Assembly Lines: one for the C295 military aircraft in Vadodara, home of GSV, and another for the H125 helicopter, for which a suitable location is being sought. The C295 program alone is expected to create 25,000 direct and indirect jobs in India. Moreover, we are collaborating with Air India to establish the Airbus India Training Centre in Gurgaon, aiming to train approximately 5,000 pilots over the next decade.”

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Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of GSV, emphasized the transformative impact of the partnership with Airbus, stating, “This pioneering collaboration will greatly advance GSV’s vision to become an industry-driven and innovation-led university. We are grateful to Airbus for their significant support towards both regular education and executive training programs at GSV, aimed at enhancing human resources, skills development, and pioneering research in the aviation sector in India.”

Established under an Act of Parliament in 2022, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is dedicated exclusively to transportation and logistics sectors, aiming to fulfill the mandates of national developmental plans such as the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and the National Logistics Policy 2022. The collaboration with Airbus marks a pioneering step toward integrating industry expertise with academic rigor, setting a precedent for future industry-academia partnerships in India.

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