| |
Speech by Mr Sia Kheng Yok, Deputy Director, Logistics & Transport, Economic Development Board, at the MOU Signing Ceremony Of ITE's Nitec in Aerospace Technology Course, On 7 February 2006
Dr Law, CEO & Director, Institute of Technical Education
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good afternoon.
1. I am very pleased to join you here today as ITE launches its new Nitec course in Aerospace Technology. It is also very encouraging to see many representatives from the industry who have come in support of this new course.
ITE's Nitec course is timely
2. The launch of ITE's Nitec course is very timely given that the global aviation industry is on an upsurge. According to Aerostrategy consultants, there will be 25,000 planes flying by 2014. This means that the world's aircraft fleet will grow by some 4 per cent annually over the next 9 years. In the Asia Pacific, growth will outstrip the rest of the world and achieve 6.7 per cent. This optimistic outlook for the region's aviation industry is in line with its rapid growth in recent years. Singapore, which already has a strong foundation as a leading aviation hub, is poised to ride this growth wave.
3. Singapore's aerospace industry has been expanding at double-digit growth rates for more than a decade. We are experiencing an industry boom with many factory expansions as well as new investments. In fact, over the next fortnight, we will be seeing the groundbreaking or opening of 8 new aircraft hangars and factories. These projects will call for skilled manpower, in particular those trained by ITE. Aerostrategy in fact, estimates that Singapore will need in excess of 2,000 additional aircraft maintenance technicians in the next 10 years.
4. ITE with its new Nitec course, together with its existing aerospace courses will be a valuable source of skilled technicians to meet the increase in demand for aircraft maintenance technicians and fuel the growth of Singapore's aerospace industry.
Singapore now offers a comprehensive range of aerospace education
5. With the launch of ITE's Nitec in Aerospace Technology, Singapore now has a very comprehensive spectrum of aerospace education programmes. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) offers a 4 year aerospace degree programme, while National University of Singapore (NUS)'s engineering degree programme boasts an aerospace specialisation. There are also polytechnics courses offering aerospace-related diplomas. Altogether, over 800 students graduate with aerospace-specific training each year from our institutions.
Academic-Industry collaboration is a win-win
6. I am happy to note the strong industry support for ITE's new programme. Many aerospace companies, who are represented in the audience today, will be participating in the programme by providing industrial attachment places for the students.
7. This academic-industry collaboration brings about mutual benefits. For one, the students' education is enriched with practical onsite sessions at the hangars. At the same time, companies also enjoy time and cost savings as they will now be able to employ such students and have them become productive in a shorter time.
8. As I understand it, aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies now train their own aircraft technicians. ITE's Nitec course will not only help to reduce the burden of cost and time on the companies, but will also allow them to focus on their core business of aircraft repair.
Conclusion
9. In closing, I would like to thank all the participating companies for your very strong support. I also want to thank ITE for its strong support for the aerospace industry. I am sure we are all looking forward to the first batch of graduates from this course to join the
|
|  |
|
