Boeing partners with Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) to further empower aerospace education in Ethiopia
- Financial grant provided by Boeing will support AAiT students to enhance study of aerodynamics and engineering sciences
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 18, 2023 — Boeing announced its partnership with Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) in Ethiopia. Boeing will provide a financial grant to support the students of AAiT with the development of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for wheat rust and locust identification; the setup of a wind tunnel; and the design and development of student projects.
“We are very excited to partner with one of the leading hubs of tech and innovation education in Africa. Boeing recognizes Ethiopia as a global aviation leader, and we are firmly committed to support its exceptional growth potential. We seek to build a 21st century pipeline for aviation careers in Ethiopia, through collaborations with highly qualified educational institutions like AAiT, to empower their students – the next generation of Ethiopia’s aerospace workforce,” said Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia.
One of the projects funded is to support Ethiopia’s agricultural industry, which accounts for 40% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Students will work on developing a UAV to help wheat farmers with the identification of wheat rust and locust, to aid with precise pesticide or fungicide spraying.
The second project funded is to support the setup of a wind tunnel, which will give students practical and experimental learning opportunities to examine flow physics around aircraft and other vehicles and machines. As a teaching tool, it will enable them to conduct experiments under different simulated wind force conditions.
The third project is to support students of AAiT who have keen interest on working projects related to aerospace design, development of drones and UAV’s structure, guidance and navigation. The student project will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on their benefit and contribution to support real-life community challenges.
About Boeing:
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity.