Bandung – On February 18, 2024, the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) at ITB welcomed a visit from the Airbus International Cooperation & Offset Team as part of the company’s agenda in Jakarta from February 17–19, 2024. The visit aimed to strengthen academic collaboration, explore potential aerospace partnerships, and discuss Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of Airbus’ commitment to supporting sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation.

Airbus has maintained a strong presence in Indonesia for more than 40 years, dating back to 1976. The company’s presence is marked by the delivery of various commercial aircraft models such as the A330 and A320 Family, as well as civilian and military helicopters ranging from light models to the H225M. Airbus also contributes to natural resource monitoring in Indonesia through its Pleiades and TerraSAR-X satellites, which assist in more efficient resource management.

Before holding a sharing session with students, the Airbus team met with Acting Dean of FTMD, Prof. Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D., and members of the FTMD academic board. Discussions centered on potential academic cooperation to enhance the quality of Indonesia’s aerospace industry, including research and development of more eco-friendly aviation technologies through SAF. Airbus emphasized the vital role of universities in driving innovation and developing human resources in the aviation sector, especially in addressing the increasingly complex challenges of the global industry.

The sharing session, held in FTMD’s Joint Lecture Room (RKB), offered ITB students the chance to learn more about one of the world’s leading aerospace companies. Paul Coignec opened the session by stating that Indonesia is a key market for Airbus. With its strategic geographic location and rapidly growing aviation industry, Indonesia is an important part of Airbus’ expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

Led by M. Ridlo Akbar, Senior Manager of Business Growth Indonesia, Airbus presented workforce demographics in the country—currently totaling 30 employees, with an even gender split of 50% women and 50% men. Of these, 84% work in the helicopter sector, 10% in commercial aviation, and 6% in defense and space. Airbus also reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion, noting that 50% of managerial positions are held by women.

Paul Coignec, Vice President of HR Airbus Asia Pacific, shared insights with ITB students on how to join Airbus, outlining the qualifications, skills, and experience needed to compete in the global aviation industry. The session also motivated students to recognize that their abilities can be competitive on a global scale, opening opportunities to join Airbus Asia Pacific.

As part of its talent development efforts, Airbus launched the Airbus APAC Leadership University in Singapore in the third quarter of 2023, aimed at providing more opportunities for employee growth and networking in the Asia-Pacific region. Paul Coignec closed the session by encouraging students to actively participate in opportunities offered by Airbus—such as career fairs (both virtual and on-site), campus events, conferences, and internships—since many of Airbus’ potential hires are recruited through these channels.

This visit served as a valuable opportunity for FTMD ITB students to gain deeper insight into the global aviation industry and explore career possibilities at Airbus, a company that plays a significant role in both Indonesia’s and the world’s aviation ecosystem.