A ceremony was held today in Tianjin, China, to celebrate the graduation of 43 students from the Aviation Safety Management Masters Programme (ASM Masters Programme), jointly developed and implemented by Airbus and its European and Chinese partners, Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile (ENAC), Institut Superieur de L'Aeronautique et de L'Espace (ISAE) of France, and Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC).

The programme was initiated by the International Airworthiness Cooperation Department of Airbus in 2001. Airbus' initiative was welcomed by ENAC, ENSICA (now ISAE) and CAUC. The academic activities started in 2003 and the first group of masters students graduated in 2004. Some 450 graduates, including today's, have successfully obtained their masters degree or diploma.

The 43 new graduates, belonging to the programme's eighth graduation year, received their masters degree or diploma in Aviation Safety Management (specialising in Airworthiness or in Aeronautical Maintenance) during the graduation ceremony at Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin. Concerning the programme's ninth graduation year, 61 students have registered for the 2012-2013 programme in Aviation Safety Management (in Flight Operations and Aviation Safety Management or in Aeronautical Maintenance). An increasing number of students apply each year for this Aviation Safety Management Programme.

Supported by Airbus, the ASM Masters Programme is taught at CAUC premises, jointly with ENAC and ISAE. The programme has been strongly supported by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Chinese aviation authority.

The programme was developed to create a state-of-the-art educational tool in China to train future professionals on civil aviation safety management to the highest international standards. The graduate students get a French diploma from ENAC and ISAE, recognized in both France and China. Today, these graduates can be found working for airlines, airworthiness authorities, maintenance organizations, airports, air traffic control providers and educational institutions, mainly in the field of aviation safety. They play an important role in promoting aviation safety management in China.

Contributed by Airbus S.A.S.