On December 12, the Second International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit, co-hosted by Beihang University, ICAO, the government of Shenzhen, and the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics (CSAA), was convened in Shenzhen.
The three-day NGAP Global Summit was intended to unite the aviation community with education and labour sectors to address strategies and actions for engaging, educating and retaining the next generation of aviation professionals. Dr. Liu Fang, Secretary General of ICAO; Mr. Li Jian, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation Administration China; Mr. Lin Zuoming, President of CSAA; Dr. Cao Shumin, Chairman of Beihang University Council; and Mr. Chen Rugui, Mayor of Shenzhen attended the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Cao Shumin noted that with the rapid development of the global aviation industry, the need to engage and retain the next generation of aviation professionals has become increasingly important. Beihang University, as the first aeronautical university in China, has been working closely with world-class universities and aviation enterprises in training top-notch aviation professionals. Beihang looks forward to continuing its effort in this field with the generous support of ICAO in the future.
The summit was comprised of six panels: Fast Forward to the Future, Employer Challenges Now and in the Future, Women in Aviation Now and in the Future, Innovations and Solutions to Address NGAP Challenges, Setting up a National NGAP Strategy, and The Way Forward.
In the panel “Innovations and Solutions to Address NGAP Challenges”, Professor Huang Haijun delivered a speech analyzing the future trends of global aviation and the demand for the next generation of aviation professionals. He introduced in particular the educational principles of Beihang University and its innovative practices in training aviation talent. Prof. Wen Dongsheng, Dean of the School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering and the School of General Engineering, spoke at the panel “The Way Forward” about the approaches to train professionals with an international vision and innovative minds.
During the summit, Dr. Cao Shumin also had a meeting with Dr. Liu Fang to exchange views in promoting education and research cooperation between Beihang and ICAO. After the meeting, Prof. Fan Ying, Dean of the School of Economics and Management; and James Wan, Deputy Director of Information Management and General Administrative Services of ICAO; signed the Working Plan of the Joint Beihang-ICAO Research Project of Big Data-Driven Aviation Economics and Management on behalf of their respective sides.
On Dec 13, the International Association of Aviation and Aerospace Education (ALICANTO) was launched following the signing of an agreement by over 30 of the world’s prominent aviation and aeronautical universities. The association was initiated by Beihang University; McGill University; Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation; and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
The Model ICAO Forum, conducted by ICAO adjacent to the summit saw some 180 students participating in discussions on civil aviation topics prepared by ICAO technical experts. The forum provided a unique opportunity to raise university-level awareness on the role of ICAO on the international stage, and the challenges associated with forging global consensus on critical air transport issues. 23 Beihang students, including 13 international exchange students, were selected to participate in the forum.
The NGAP initiative was launched in 2009 to help ensure that enough qualified and competent aviation professionals are available to operate, manage and maintain the future international air transport system. To date NGAP has held two Global Summits, two Global Symposia and eight NGAP Regional Symposia.
