Latest News from the CIT Extended Campus
CIT Secures €30,000 Aviation Skillnet Funding
10 September, 2020
CIT’s Department of Marketing and International Business has been awarded €30,000 from the Aviation Skillnet for the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Business with Aviation Studies programme.
The funding will subsidise 25% of the fees of 20 active, Irish-based pilots who are undertaking the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Business with Aviation Studies. 
This two-year BA programme is a specially designed international business degree programme for airline pilots that reflects their training background, trajectories and career ambitions. It has been developed in conjunction with the aviation industry, including considerable input from major airlines and the Atlantic Flight Training Academy, based in Cork.
Turbulent times in the aviation industry means that career prospects for pilots have changed significantly. The newly announced funding towards this qualification offers pilots a head start towards strengthening their opportunities.
Dr Pio Fenton, Head of the Department of Marketing and International Business, said, “We are happy at CIT to be able to provide this opportunity to people who are working in this sector, which has been hit the hardest. The future of aviation remains bright - however, there are some challenging times in the short-term. That provides a good opportunity to upskill and gain a qualification”.
Delivered fully online, the programme builds upon the extensive training and development that pilots undertake, while also combining business knowledge and expertise, allowing for the development of captains of business beyond the cockpit while adding more value within it.
Linda Barron, Aviation Skillnet Director, said, “The Aviation Skillnet is delighted to fund the CIT International Business with Aviation Studies (BA Honours) to support the cross-skilling and upskilling for participants. This programme provides comprehensive learnings for individuals which will be of significant advantage to the attendees and also to the Irish Aviation sector”.
Sean Brennan, First Officer with Ryanair, is amongst the first cohort to graduate from this programme which began in 2018. He undertook the degree while working fulltime and said, “It taught me to see the sector from a new perspective and develop new insights into different areas of the business which I will take forward into my future roles. This degree will open doors for me in the future whichever path I choose in the aviation industry".
Aviation Skillnet is a learning network supporting companies of all sizes in the aviation and aerospace sector. It’s objective is to enhance the specialised knowledge and skills that exist within the industry, increasing access to skills development opportunities and encouraging ongoing professional development.
