Ethiopia is ensuring that young people are aware of career opportunities that exist in the country’s aviation landscape.
As a growing sector on the African continent, aviation is indeed projected to need a number of skilled professionals in the future.
AVIATION CAREERS IN ETHIOPIA
Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for aviation. According to Boeing’s 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook, Africa will need 76,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years.
This therefore means that people need to be made aware of opportunities that exist for employment. However, working in the aviation sector requires skillsets that must be learned.
BOEING’S STEM SCHOOL IN ETHIOPIA
To meet this demand, Boeing’s STEM School – in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines and ThinkYoung (an education NGO), was developed to inspire the next generation into aviation.
This summer, the STEM school hosted a 6-week program welcoming 28 students from 14 regions in Ethiopia, who aspire to become the next generation of aviation engineers, scientists, innovators and change-makers.
The school offers an innovative three-year program providing Ethiopian high school students with training and job shadowing opportunities at Ethiopian Aviation University, field visits to aviation facilities, and career talks with Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines professionals.
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CHOOSING AVIATION CAREERS IN ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Aviation University has opened up new career opportunities for the country’s youth.
The facility employs experienced professionals who bring their real-world expertise into the classroom. Furthermore, they are dedicated to helping students succeed and answering questions and providing guidance.
State-of-the-art facilities include flight simulators, engineering labs, digital labs, aircraft maintenance labs and air traffic control towers. These provide students with the tools to gain practical experience and skills.
In addition, the facility offers a variety of resources to help students in Ethiopia succeed, offering aviation career services, tutoring and academic advice.
BOEING CHOOSES ETHIOPIA
In May, the aircraft manufacturer selected Ethiopia for its regional headquarters.
In a decisive move that underscores Ethiopia’s standing in the aviation sector, Boeing announced the establishment of its African headquarters in the country.
This is also due to Ethiopia’s exemplary aviation safety record. The decision indeed underpins Ethiopian Airlines’ strong commitment to Boeing.
Africa’s largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, has a large fleet comprised mainly of Boeing aircraft. Addis Ababa-based Boeing’s Africa office will in fact begin operations in October, Boeing’s Africa Managing Director Henok Teferra said.