The Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) Academy is trying to provide wings to the dreams of young aspirants who want to take up aviation as a professional career in their lives. Built at a cost of around Rs.6 crore, it is situated close to the airport at Nedumbassery in Kochi, opposite the state-of-the-art Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.
CIAL Academy has joined hands with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to offer various postgraduate, diploma and certificate programmes in aviation and airport infrastructure technology and management.
The academic council of the institution consists of CIAL and IGNOU officials, and experts in the field of aviation. T. S. Gopi, Director of the academy, told The Hindu-EducationPlus that the programmes offered include MBA in aviation business management with human resources, marketing, and finance as elective subjects.
The duration of the regular MBA programme is four semesters (two years). Other courses include advanced diploma in airport operations management, and air cargo management. The duration of the courses is one year.
Mr. Gopi said that the academy also offers certificate courses in airport ramp handling, rescue and fire fighting, security and intelligence. The duration of the certificate programmes is six months.
Some of the topics included in the curriculum for the MBA and diploma programmes include airport operations management, airport support services and facilities, airport financial management, air traffic management and control systems and international airports, airlines and carrier operations management.
The number of seats for the MBA programme is 60. For the diploma course and the certificate programmes, the intake is 30 each. The four-semester MBA programme will cost Rs.2.4 lakh while the two-semester diploma course will cost Rs.1 lakh. The fee for the certificate course is Rs.20, 000.
The Director said that the academy has plans to start an M.Tech. programme in airport infrastructure design and construction management. We will start offering a postgraduate diploma in fire and safety management (one year) from this academic year, he said. The admission to the programmes is based on the performance in the entrance test followed by group discussion and interview. The admission details for the new academic year will be announced in March.
K. S. Divakaran Nair, Regional Director of IGNOU, said that the university will monitor the conduct of the entrance examination and quality of academic programmes being offered to the students. “We will also set the question papers and evaluate the performance of the aspirants,” he said.
Students have the advantage of using the facilities available at the airport during their course of study. The entire project work will be carried out within the airport itself.
Mr. Gopi said that the academy will join hands with potential employers aimed at providing jobs to the students who join the institution. He said that opportunities will emerge for aspirants in the coming days. All major airports are evaluating capacity building. “Our students will enjoy the advantage of having received training in various airport operations by the time they pass out from the academy,” he said.
CIAL authorities said that there is a lack of trained and qualified manpower in airport operations in the country.
The academy will be able to fill the gap by moulding students, with necessary skills in various areas. They said that the academy will invite expert faculties in the aviation sectors from across the country to impart training to the students.
