Graduate Certificate in Aviation Sustainability, Leadership and Innovation

course overview

Commercial Aviation is a relatively young industry that has grown at an incredible rate in recent decades. It remains a critical component of any modern economy, especially for island nations with open economies like Ireland.  Thus, the professionals who make up the workforce must be well educated and have the necessary skills to deal with the specific challenges faced by the aviation industry today.

The Graduate Certificate in Aviation Sustainability, Leadership, and Innovation (ASLI) is aimed at developing practitioners in the aviation management space to enable them to lead sustainably, innovate and understand the regulatory environment in their organisations and beyond.  The progamme has been designed to be complementary to the MSc in Aviation Leadership, whereby students can continue their studies to achieve the MSc degree.

This programme is the only graduate programme of its kind in the world and is an innovative partnership between DCU and Aviation Skillnet – a business network for companies of all sizes in the aviation and aerospace in sector Ireland that addresses both technical and non-technical skills needs of its members.              Aviation Skillnet | ICBE | Irish Centre for Business Excellence Network

This accredited programme is specifically customised and designed to meet industry needs to develop the current and future aviation leaders in Ireland and internationally.  The content is designed to meet industry demand and benefits from extensive input from DCU’s Aviation Industry Advisory Board which provides real time insights into emerging trends and demands in the profession, as well as considerable faculty expertise and cutting-edge research.

The course modules are:

1. Leadership for Aviation Managers:  This module aims to develop the student understanding of leadership principles and enhance the students’ capacity to think strategically and better understand the organisational and leadership issues.  Find out more here: business.dcu.ie/module-1-leadership-for-aviation-managers/

2. Aviation Policy and Regulations:  This module aims to empower aviation managers’ decision-making by providing awareness and understanding of how the policies and regulations are applied to aviation and thereby enabling better operational and commercial functions management. Find out more here: https://business.dcu.ie/module-2-aviation-policy-and-regulations/

3. Digitalisation and Business Analytics in Aviation:  This module investigates digitalisation initiatives (e.g., Blockchain, 5G, SWIM, Augmented Reality) and their impact on aviation.  It also aims to develop the relevant skills and knowledge to effectively use tools to manage and manipulate data and provide a basic data management ‘literacy’ that is now an essential feature of work in modern organisations. Find out more here: https://business.dcu.ie/module-3-digitilasation-and-business-analytics-in-aviation/

4. Sustainable Aviation and Green Innovation: This module will increase students’ literacy in environmental issues, provide a framework for informed strategic decision-making, and support future aviation leaders in contextualising the course learning and delivering the industry’s carbon-neutral and sustainable growth commitments. Find out more here: https://business.dcu.ie/module-4-sustainable-aviation-and-green-innovation/

Aviation Skillnet funding applies.

If you are employed within the Aviation & Aerospace private sector or commercial semi-state you can access Aviation Skillnet funded training through your company. 

Aviation Skillnet is mandated to support private sector enterprise. The following organisations are not eligible to receive funding through Aviation Skillnet.

• Public sector organisations
• Charity or not-for-profit organisations
• Business outside the Republic of Ireland

DCU Business School is ranked in the top 95 Business Schools in Europe in the 2022 Financial Times Ranking, one of only three Irish Business Schools to achieve this ranking.  The Financial Times Ranking for Business Schools is one of the most highly acknowledged and widely cited authorities on quality and performance of institutions globally.

The Graduate Certificate in Aviation Sustainability, Leadership and Innovation will be delivered in-person, through on-campus classes and on-campus events to enhance networking opportunities and a good student experience.

Students will also have access to an induction to academic writing and student life session as well as all the support functions of DCU (e.g. academic writing centre, library).

Programme outcomes:

On successful completion of this programme, graduates will have gained an ability to appraise, evaluate, and exercise judgement in the development of appropriate solutions to a range of aviation business problems at strategic and business functional level in a variety of contexts and devise appropriate tactical and strategic responses.  They will have the ability to draw upon specific management tools and techniques to address both specific and imprecise aviation problems, and the ability to justify and be accountable for the proposed solutions.  In addition, graduates will be able to exercise and demonstrate leadership capabilities when setting, implementing and evaluating sustainable aviation business strategies, as well as develop an aptitude for a wide variety of aviation management and functional roles within organisations of any size.

With the ever increasing emphasis on delivering excellence in aviation, there will be important roles for talented and qualified individuals. The aviation industry is expanding in Ireland and internationally. Students of the programme will be seeking to accelerate their careers after graduation.

Our Aviation Alumni network enhances our existing industry connections, providing employability connections to our community.  Our alumni have taken up employment in a variety of positions, for instance:

• Airlines and leasing companies (e.g. Aer Lingus, Ryanair, City Jet, Avolon, British Airways, American Airlines, Norwegian);
• Aerospace and Manufacturers (e.g. Airbus, Boeing);
• Airport Operators (e.g. Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport, Omani Airports);
• Aircraft maintenance (e.g. Dublin Airspace, Ryanair, Aer Lingus);
• Air Navigation Service Providers (e.g. Irish Aviation Authority);
• Consultancy firms

The University has launched a new student application portal. Applications for entry to this course can be made here. 

General Entry Requirements