Aligning aviation education and training with real-world needs

Preparing tomorrow’s aviation workforce requires more than classroom learning. It calls for education and training systems that are tightly connected to industry realities, responsive to technological change, and accessible across all regions. During the ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit, held in Durban, South Africa, and co-hosted by ICAO and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) under the leadership of South Africa’s Department of Transport, this challenge took centre stage.

In the session dedicated to “Aligning Education and Training with Real-World Needs,” senior regulators, educators, industry leaders, and training experts came together to address one of the most pressing issues in aviation workforce development: how to ensure that graduates leave academic and training programmes ready to meet the realities of today’s and tomorrow’s aviation ecosystem. Panelists shared strategies to modernize learning content, strengthen collaboration across sectors, and create seamless pathways from education to employment, while also addressing barriers such as access to technology, mentorship, and equitable opportunities for all States.

Speakers emphasized that as global demand for aviation professionals grows, traditional approaches to training are not keeping pace. Outdated programmes, uneven access to resources, and limited collaboration between academia, industry, and regulators were all identified as barriers to developing a resilient and future-ready workforce. The conversation underscored that aligning education with real-world needs is not optional; it is essential for safety, sustainability, and global competitiveness.

Key insights from this session

Moderated by Laura Camastra, Chief of ICAO Training, the panel featured:

• Tunc Cavcav, Head of People, Culture & Academy, iGA

• Robert Reid, Head of School, Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, as well as Co-Chair, International Association of Aviation and Aerospace Education (ALICANTO)

• Lea Vesic, Director and CEO of Aviation Academy, RMIT University

• Professor Graham Braithwaite, Director of Aerospace and Aviation, Cranfield University (virtual)

• Henok Teferra Shawl, Managing Director, Boeing Africa

Together, the panelists explored the urgent need to redesign training systems so that graduates are job-ready from day one. Their discussions highlighted how stronger partnerships between universities, training providers, and employers can create seamless pipelines from education into the workforce. They also stressed the importance of mentorship, interdisciplinary learning, and knowledge transfer between generations.

Technology was another focal point: while digital tools, AI, and virtual reality can make training more dynamic and accessible, equitable access is essential to ensure no country or community is left behind. Panelists also pointed to the role of research and innovation in keeping education relevant, warning that without regular updates, even well-designed programmes risk falling out of step with industry transformation.

Highlights included:

• Recognition that technology is both a catalyst and a challenge, requiring equitable access to digital training tools so that no State is left behind.

• A strong call for systematic collaboration frameworks that can bridge academia, regulators, and industry to smooth the transition from education to employment.

• Emphasis on mentorship and coaching to guide students and preserve institutional knowledge.

• Calls to adopt more interdisciplinary learning and applied research to keep aviation education relevant, innovative, and future-ready.

Calls to action

• Address workforce shortages by mentoring the next generation and creating stronger pathways into aviation.

• Foster cross-sector partnerships to co-develop curricula, share resources, and ensure training leads to real opportunities in the workforce.

Why this matters

Session 4 reinforced the message that preparing for the future workforce is not only about producing graduates — it is about producing aviation professionals who are ready to succeed. By embedding collaboration, mentorship, and innovation into training systems, the sector can ensure that students enter the workforce with both confidence and competence. These insights feed directly into the NGAP Summit’s broader Call to Action, underscoring the need for structured partnerships and future-ready training as part of global workforce planning. To watch the full recording of this Summit session, click here.  To access all other sessions from the 2025 NGAP Global Summit, and hear directly from the panelists and explore their insights in greater depth, click on the link below.