IIT Guwahati and Airbus India join hands to expand aviation and logistics education in Assam

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has joined hands with Airbus India Pvt Ltd to expand aviation and logistics education in Assam, thereby improving the socio-economic scenario of the northeastern region.

This collaboration comes after fruitful discussions with officials of the Transport, Skill and Industry departments of the Government of Assam.

In this regard, a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was signed between Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati and Remi Maillard, Chairman and Managing Director, Airbus India Private Limited.

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The event was attended by several dignitaries including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Other dignitaries present included Chief Secretary Dr S Ravi Kota, Ashutosh Aggarwal, Head and Aftermarket Strategy & Business Development, and Sumit Singh Mangalotra, Regional Business Leader, Airbus Beyond, Airbus India and South Asia, Professor Parameshwar K Iyer, Dean, PRBR at IIT Guwahati.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sarma said partnerships in aviation logistics and allied sectors would not only promote knowledge sharing but also shape the future of the aviation industry.

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The Chief Minister said the collaboration would focus on key sectors such as transport, hospitality, skills and logistics — each of which has significant growth potential.

Chief Minister Sarma said, “I assure the IIT family that students participating in these programmes will receive adequate scholarships to help them excel in their pursuit of new careers.”

Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati welcomed the guests and said that the transformational partnership with Airbus is not only in line with the Institute’s vision for advanced education in aviation and logistics but also meets the urgent need for skilled professionals in these critical areas.

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He said, “This initiative will empower the youth of Assam and the North-East region, promote innovation, economic growth and ensure a bright future for all.”

Suraj Chhetri, Vice President & Head of Human Resources, Airbus India & South Asia and Site Head, Airbus India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, emphasized that India and the rest of the world require large scale skilled human resources to meet the rapid growth of the aviation industry.

“We will continue to invest in developing a skilled workforce in India, working closely with the Government of India and various state governments to unleash the full potential of the Indian aviation sector. Together, we aim to lay the foundation for sustainable growth and global leadership in the aviation sector,” he added.

Key highlights of the partnership

Following are some of the highlights of the partnership:

• Leveraging joint expertise and resources to develop comprehensive programs that will advance aviation education and training in the Northeast region of India.
• IIT Guwahati will conduct the courses, engage students and provide necessary infrastructure and logistical support.
• IIT Guwahati will establish a Global Skills Centre in Aviation and Logistics, which will address the severe shortage of skilled professionals in the logistics sector required for the growth of global trade and commerce.
• The centre will also provide comprehensive training and development programs to equip individuals with the skills required to meet industry demand.
• The partnership with Airbus India Private Limited aims to enhance employment opportunities and career advancement for individuals in the North Eastern region and improve the quality of service in the aviation and logistics industries.
• In the initial phase, Airbus will supply instructors, training materials and equipment from the Airbus Beyond catalogue for short-term courses.
• Airbus will enable IIT Guwahati faculty to conduct ‘Train the Trainer’ programmes, allowing them to independently deliver Airbus courses while maintaining the curriculum, content and equipment.
• The partnership also plans to co-conduct long-term courses at a later stage.

It is worth mentioning here that the entire programme will be set up at IIT Guwahati, with guidance and close coordination with the Government of Assam and all the state governments of the Northeast region. It will target students from the entire region and bordering states.

According to the press release, this partnership is in line with the Udan scheme of the Government of India which aims to promote development and socio-economic reforms across the country.