News from the AAU

Citation

(2001), "News from the AAU", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773eab.001

News from the AAU

The Association of Aerospace Universities (AAU) has come of age. Membership has risen to 24, 19 universities and five industrial associate members.

The universities are:

1. 1.

   University of Bristol;

2. 2.

   University of Birmingham;

3. 3.

   Coventry University;

4. 4.

   Cambridge University;

5. 5.

   Oxford University;

6. 6.

   Kingston University;

7. 7.

   London Guildhall University;

8. 8.

   Glasgow University;

9. 9.

   Queens University Belfast;

10. 10.

    University of Hertfordshire;

11. 11.

    Imperial College London;

12. 12.

    Farnborough College;

13. 13.

    City University London;

14. 14.

    Liverpool University;

15. 15.

    Nottingham University;

16. 16.

    University of the West of England;

17. 17.

    University of Wales Swansea;

18. 18.

    DeMontfort University; and

19. 19.

    UMIST.

And the industrial associate members are:

1. 1.

   Rolls-Royce plc;

2. 2.

   Merlin Flight Simulators;

3. 3.

   DERA;

4. 4.

   Rutherford Appleton Laboratories;

5. 5.

   Emerald.

On Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 October 2001 the AAU will celebrate the fact that it has become the principal organisation for co-ordinating support for the UK's aerospace industry by British universities, by having a formal ceremony.

How the AAU was started

In October 1997 Coventry University agreed to host a Department of Trade and Industry Foresight event to which many of the UK's universities either already involved, or interested in, aerospace research were invited. During lunch Dr John Barnes, an Honorary Life Fellow of Coventry University, suggested that it was timely for the university community to get together in such a way as to support the nation's aerospace industry as effectively as possible. In this respect, he described his work with an organisation called the Association of Colleges of Aerospace Technology (ACAT), and the numerous benefits that the creation of the group had brought to its members, suggesting that it could provide a model for other, like-minded, institutions of Higher Education. John kindly offered to nurture a fledgling organisation if others were interested. His generous manner and persuasive oratory, together with his passion for the wellbeing of the nation's aerospace industry, persuaded a number of institutions' representatives to form the Association of Aerospace Universities, and a small management committee was established.

A mission statement and aims and objectives were decided upon and an action plan agreed to implement these.

Mission statement

The Association of Aerospace Universities (AAU) is a focus for activities in the higher education sector relating to UK aerospace and supports industry through the provision of world class education, research and consultancy.

Aims

The AAU aims to enable universities to collaborate and promote courses and research expertise and enhance links with the aerospace industry by:

• •

  development of specialist higher education;

• •

  collaboration between higher education, the aerospace industry and commerce;

• •

  dialogue between higher education, professional bodies, the industrial sector and government; and

• •

  marketing and networking.

Objectives

AAU objectives include acting as a promotional and interactive forum for aerospace education and business in the UK.

However, in order to convert the above statements into action, it was considered necessary to increase the number of members to a "critical mass" which was set as a target membership of 25.

One early goal was to participate in the UK's premier aerospace activity, the Farnborough Air Show. Thus the AAU exhibited at Farnborough International 1998 (FI98) – the theme, which, coincidentally, was youth and careers in aerospace and hence highly appropriate. In the event, not only did the AAU stand receive many enquires regarding aerospace courses offered by UK universities, but there was also a lot of interest from representatives of aerospace institutions who thought membership would be useful to them. The event seemed useful to both potential under- and post-graduates and swelled the membership, a success that was repeated at FI2000.

A two-year plan of AAU "conference meetings" was launched early in which the host member university was given the opportunity to demonstrate its particular expertise and facilities in aerospace research. For example, in 1999, the University of Birmingham hosted a fascinating event demonstrating its unique materials research facilities, in particular its work for Rolls-Royce on the development of titanium alloys, and how this was integrated into its BEng and MEng courses in metallurgy and materials science. It was clear from colleagues' comments at the time that few had known of Birmingham University's advanced capabilities on these technologies, and not only was the event a very enjoyable one, but it provided the opportunity for much overdue networking. Other such events have taken place and more are planned.

In addition, specialist research groups have been set up enabling likeminded people to "cluster together" and hence, where appropriate, share their experience. Furthermore, industrial members are attending more and more of the meetings. Hence, the aims and objectives of the AAU are being slowly, but very surely, accomplished.

Formal celebration

A celebration of the success of the AAU will take place on Thursday 25 October at the University of Bristol. Registration will be from 10.30 a.m. and the formal ceremony will commence at 11.00 a.m. Many senior academics, members of industry and commerce, together with guests from the Government, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Society of British Aerospace Companies will attend. After the official ceremony and lunch, a number of short lectures will be given by industrial experts on subjects ranging from the conversion of the A3XX to the Airbus A380, to the future of the gas turbine engine.

Members and supporters of the AAU will also be invited on the previous afternoon, Wednesday 24, to view the Airbus UK facilitates at Filton. Iain Gray, Airbus Director of Engineering at Bristol, will host the tour and a dinner will be provided afterwards.

Students

Graduates are fundamental to the success of the aerospace industry. Thus it has been estimated that, currently, 40 percent of employees working directly for the industry are graduates and it is reasonable to speculate that this number will rise in the future. In recognition of this, the AAU will not only be encouraging young people to join the industry, but will be awarding prizes to the most successful through a series of initiatives. Plate 1 below shows the AAU trophy that will be awarded together with some financial/industrial incentive.

Plate 1 Student trophy

Future role of the AAU

The aerospace industry, like many others, is going through the process of globalisation, the most radical change in its history. The full implications of the process are still unknown but, clearly, increased competition is a major feature that is likely to accelerate in the future. In order to remain competitive, especially with low wage economies, countries such as the UK must use their technology and skills in innovative ways to improve the performance of their manufacturing industries and reduce costs. The Association of Aerospace Universities recognises the challenges the future brings and is preparing a programme of initiatives for universities intended to support and strengthen the nation's aerospace industry.

For further information, please contact Alan Jocelyn, Chairman Association of Aerospace Universities, and Director, Aerospace Manufacturing Research Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. Tel: 44 (0) 117 344 3500; Fax: 44(0) 117 34 3636; E-mail: alan.jocelyn@uwe.ac.uk