Aligning policies: a flying reform in higher education: The development of aviation professionals

This paper researches the social and occupational ergonomics in educational degrees and the alignment of related government policies. Specifically, it reviews the EU’s 2050 vision for aviation, which recognises that education is a key factor in meeting the future needs of the industry. Collaboration of industry, universities and national research organisations are identified as essential components in removing the rigidity of education, which will allow for the recognised shortfall of aviation professionals to be satisfied. The paper commences by providing a flying reform of higher education, by reviewing the key development stages within the UK and the EU. The EU’s ever-increasing involvement in HE is considered as a means to meet wider related policy objectives and overarching strategies. The diversification of degree opportunities together with the fit to adjacent policies is discussed. The paper concludes by demonstrating successful policy application through the exploration of one specific aviation degree provided by a modern UK university.

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in International Journal of Aviation Management. The final authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJAM.2016.078651