Cooperation agreement signed between the Estonian Aviation Academy and IATA
On 7 May, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Estonian Aviation Academy and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), making the Academy the first IATA Authorized Training Center in Estonia.
The status of an Authorized Training Center means that the Academy can start offering contractual courses, mainly intended for the aviation sector, using training materials developed by the IATA. The courses will be conducted by IATA-approved trainers from the Academy. In order to become an Authorized Training Center, the Academy had to complete the IATA’s accreditation process, which involved assessing both the organisation as a whole and the experts who will conduct the training.
Catrin Mattsson, the IATA’s Area Manager for Nordic and Baltic regions, praised the Academy’s initiative and said, “It has quickly become apparent that in addition to quality being the key component in the activities of the Academy, Estonian Aviation Academy also has high-flying visions for the future”. Mattsson added that they are thrilled to have Estonia be part of the IATA’s cooperation network thanks to the Academy.
The courses will first be offered to the school’s own students, being integrated into a number of different study programmes, including the Commercial Aviation Management programme that will launch this autumn. According to the Academy’s rector Koit Kaskel, the courses will greatly benefit the school’s first English-language study programme. “Offering cutting-edge IATA courses in a completely new programme will support study quality and help boost credibility,” he said, commenting on the collaboration. Next, courses will be offered for the Estonian market in the form of training packages intended primarily for aviation companies but also for those who have no previous aviation experience.
The courses are multifaceted and cover ground handling, safety, quality and aviation company processes. The following courses will soon be available on our website: Airport Operations Fundamentals, Ground Operations Management, Introduction to the Airline Industry, Quality Management Systems Fundamentals, and Safety Management Systems Fundamentals. Workloads depend on the course, but all courses conclude with an IATA exam. Upon completion of the course, participants will be issued certificates by the IATA and the Academy, which are recognised internationally. In the coming years, cooperation will hopefully extend to joint study programmes or even to regional training partnerships.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association headquartered in Canada that aims to represent and provide support to aviation companies. The IATA consists of 290 airlines and guides policies and the development of common global aviation standards in the areas of aviation safety, security and sustainability.
The Estonian Aviation Academy is a professional higher education institution operating in Estonia, which trains specialists for the whole aviation industry, offers continuing training for Estonian aviation organisations and conducts applied aviation research together with various cooperation partners.