Saint-Cloud (France): French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation today announced that it has entered into a long-term partnership with Pune’s College of Engineering in India to set up a skill development centre for aeronautical integrated design.

At the second knowledge summit organized by Institut Français en Inde here, Dassault Aviation said the partnership — through the launch of the first ‘Network of Excellence: Aeronautical integrated design, from engineering to maintenance’.

“Such partnership will benefit from the advanced technology, knowledge and know-how developed by Dassault Aviation over 100 years of aeronautical experience as well as from fruitful programs and exchanges sought between the College of Engineering of Pune and Dassault Aviation’s French academic partners, ISAE-ENSMA and ESTIA,” a statement released on the occasion said.

Such ambitious ‘Network of Excellence’ will contribute to the development of training, research and entrepreneurship in the strategic civil and military aeronautical fields in India. It will also add a momentum to the vibrant global partnership between India and France in the higher education.

The ‘Curriculum of Excellence’ that will be implemented will prepare students to the aeronautical challenges of India, with a ‘French touch’ acquired through academic semesters at Dassault Aviation academic partners in France and internships at Dassault Aviation.

The creation by Dassault Aviation of the ‘Dassault Skill Academy’ global training and education initiative is meant to better serve the requirements of the global aerospace industry, ranging from design to production and in-service support and maintenance, in terms of highly-qualified manpower, throughout the entire spectrum of educational levels from Vocational to Higher Education.

With this partnership, Dassault Aviation reaffirms its committed support to the global Skill Development and ‘Skill India‘ initiative of the Government of India and its dedication at contributing to the ‘Make in India‘ initiative through India’s youth professional fulfillment.