The funding will double the enrolment in the university’s aviation flight training program to 80 students and create a new bachelor of aviation management degree program in 2024.
The financial assistance will bring a new hangar and learning facility to the university’s Springbank campus, complete with virtual reality technology and flight simulators needed to train a new generation of pilots and aircrew.
The bachelor’s program will build on MRU’s diploma curriculum, which the university has been offering for more than 50 years, by adding elements including operations, administration and financial management.
The options will give students interested in the aviation industry a range of pursuits, said Chad London, MRU provost and vice-president, academic.
London said the plan to create a new bachelor’s program has been in the works for several years after the university found support from industry players.
“We were hearing from industry that they would love to see graduates with additional education at that baccalaureate level,” London said.
Over the past several years, the university has been crafting the program, after which they approached the federal government with a funding proposal.
“The $3 million of funding from PrairiesCan is critical in helping us achieve our vision of becoming an aviation education centre of excellence,” London said.
The federal government also estimates the investment will create more than 70 jobs, train 140 students, and equip 10 small and medium-sized businesses with trained professionals.
source: https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/3-million-mount-royal-university-aviation-programs