UC partners with French university to offer dual degree
In one year students receive diploma in aero systems from UC and University of Bordeaux
The University of Cincinnati and the University of Bordeaux renewed the collaborative Aero System Operations graduate degree program between the universities. The extension was announced at the 54th annual Paris-Le Bourget International Aeronautics and Space Show.
University of Bordeaux Evering director Wahbi Jomaa and UC aerospace engineering interim Department Head Paul Orkwis shake hands at the signing of the agreement.
Through the AESOP program, students will complete their fall semester at Bordeaux in France, their spring semester at UC and complete a summer semester internship. During the semester in France, students will gain aeronautical maintenance experience and knowledge. While at UC, they will take technical courses in aerospace engineering and have the opportunity to choose their technical specialty.
At the end of the yearlong program, students are awarded a dual diploma by the two universities (Master of Engineering from UC and Diplôme Universitaire International from Bordeaux) equipping them for various positions in the field of aeronautics.
"The AESOP program was instrumental in getting me my current job,” said Nilesh Naik, maintenance engineer and AESOP graduate. “It gave me the skills and experiences needed to work on aircraft engines. The specialization in aeronautical systems is not offered by many schools, making it a very valuable skill in the industry.”
Students worldwide can take advantage of this collaborative, international degree program. The material is practice focused and designed for individuals with a background in engineering sciences who are looking to work in the field of aeronautics and aeronautics maintenance.
UC and Bordeaux have been in collaboration for nearly a decade. The partnership between the universities, dating back to 2014, is founded on training, research and innovation, aligning with UC’s Next Lives Here initiative. AESOP allows students to become well-rounded engineers academically and culturally.
“The skills obtained in the AESOP program produce practical engineers with a unique combination of engineering skills,” said Paul Orkwis, interim head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at UC.
AESOP graduates are currently employed as flight test engineers, maintenance engineers, project engineers and more around the world at companies like Amazon, Honeywell and the U.S. Air Force.
The experience of studying at both universities provides AESOP students with a holistic, global understanding of aerospace engineering and maintenance. UC’s aerospace program is the second oldest in the United States and is home to countless successful engineers, including astronaut Neil Armstrong, who was a professor at the College of Engineering and Applied Science in the 1970s. Additionally, Bordeaux is one of the largest French universities and is recognized for its excellent research and capacity for innovation, much like UC.
“In a world where information and data are paramount, we develop students who can apply those skills to the very real problems of aircraft maintenance and life prediction. Obtaining those skills under the guidance of two outstanding universities in excellent environments provides that edge and a pleasant place to learn,” Orkwis said.
AIRBUS aerospace company projects maintenance, repair and operations activity to double in the next 20 years, making AESOP and its curriculum increasingly relevant for engineering professionals.
Featured Image at top: Leaders from the University of Cincinnati and University of Bordeaux celebrate the signing of a renewed agreement. Representatives from Ohio include David Burrows, Joseph Zeis, Paul Orkwis and Oxana Prokhorova. Photo/provided
What is AESOP?
Learn more about the Aero-Systems Operations (AESOP) program and the partnership between UC and UBx.
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