Fellowships Programme
The safety, security, regularity, and efficiency of air transport are based on the skills, knowledge and attitude of all personnel involved in the administration and maintenance of the air navigation infrastructure. Effective training is a fundamental and integral requirement for the proper development of any civil aviation infrastructure and for adapting it to new technologies and procedures.
Fellowships through ICAO CDI may cover all fields of aeronautical activity from the basic training for use of equipment and systems procured through capacity development and implementation projects to graduate courses for senior managers in aeronautical engineering and airport management.
A significant component of technical cooperation projects is the training and upgrading of human resources capabilities through the development of activities in the following areas:
- training needs analysis
- development and delivery of courses and training programmes in all air transport, air navigation and airport activities
- development and delivery of managerial training programmes
- organization of technical on-the-job training programmes
- specialised training programmes with support of information technologies, simulators, distance learning, virtual training systems, etc.
- development and delivery of training and human resource strategic plans
- training offered by suppliers of equipment
- these newly trained individuals are absorbed by civil aviation administrations, which in turn greatly benefit from the sharing of knowledge and from the expertise delivered by a workforce of qualified aviation personnel.
Training through ICAO's Fellowships Programme
It is recognized that the development of local expertise is a cornerstone for the sustained expansion of a safe and secure civil aviation industry. To this end, the ICAO fellowships programme facilitates global cooperation among ICAO contracting states, organizations, and institutions to develop, provide, and offer training programmes and activities. Under this programme, donor states partner with training institutions to provide funded fellowships to candidates from developing ICAO Contracting States.
Typically, a training programme is implemented within the framework of an ICAO CDI project, or a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the host government and ICAO. While the types of training delivered by these programmes are often tailored to address regional needs, this does not preclude attendance by candidates from out-of-region. Host governments may choose to fully or partially support expenses such as training fees, instructor fees, accommodation fees, living expenses and airfares.
The breadth of training available is extensive and continues to evolve and adapt to aviation needs. Recent programmes have delivered training in the fields of:
- accident investigation and prevention
- aircraft maintenance and airworthiness
- flight operations
- inspector training (personnel licensing, flight operations and airworthiness)
- safety management systems
- dangerous goods
- aviation medicine
- flight simulator training
- in the fields of Civil Aviation Management
- Air Traffic Control, Search and Rescue
- Civil Aviation Administration and Legislation
- Airport Engineering and Maintenance
Individuals awarded ICAO Fellowships must be officially nominated by their Government for training that will be of primary benefit to the development of the Government’s civil aviation. These individuals must have the personal, linguistic, and technical qualifications required to undertake the training with possibility of success and be retained in the government’s civil aviation services for a suitable period of years following the fellowship programme.
The ICAO Training and Fellowship is responsible for administering the ICAO fellowships programme and can provide support in these areas:
- Negotiations with training institutions in connection with arrangement of training and settlement of invoices
- Issuance of fellowship awards
- Arrangements of air tickets and payment of living allowances
- Monitoring of fellowship progress & termination reports
- Administration of fellowships group insurance policy
- Fellowships statistical reports
The ICAO Training and Fellowship produces statistical reports on a regular basis. For the past 5 years, reports show an average of 700 fellowships awarded per year.