Airfreight to be added to university curriculum

Brussels Airport and Belgium’s Thomas More University College have signed a co-operation that will see airfreight introduced into the college’s logistics management training course, boosting students’ chances of gaining employment in the sector.
The agreement will see airfreight practical assignments and trainee placements at Brucargo added to the training course so that students can gain an understanding of the logistics processes in and around the airport.
Brucargo partners and Brussels Airport will also develop an air-transport curriculum.
They will also leave the course with an IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations certificate.
Thomas More University College unit manager of business courses Geert Strobbe said: “Brussels Airport is an important partner for us. Via the Cargo Training Centre [the airport and partners] will provide guest tutors, they will train our own tutors and will supply interesting course and training material.
“Our students will be highly sought after by the airport companies and be able to start work in and around the airport immediately upon graduating with an IATA-DGR certificate. A definite win/win situation for all concerned.”
Brussels Airport head of cargo Steven Polmans said: “Airfreight is an exciting sector in motion, but perhaps not one that is familiar to students.
“Through this cooperation, we are aiming to transfer knowledge of the sector to the students and also immerse them in the practice, in the hope that some of them will work in this field.
“Brussels Airport is experiencing significant increases in freight volumes, so that more and more jobs are coming to Brucargo.”