“With the various socio-political-economic crises that aviation has gone through, a growing skills crisis in aviation has taken hold, and today aviation remains a challenging sector, but with little glamour and a limited training offer,” says Patrícia Batista, CEO of IITA – International Institute of Tourism and Aviation. “Our ambition is that the rigor, passion, and glamour of 20 years ago return to aviation, with the inherent and necessary adaptations for the progress of the sector and society,” she adds. IITA came to Portugal
in 2022 and is preparing to become accredited as a Higher Technical Institute.
Economic Life
– How does the new vocational training program in Aviation differ from the previous one ?
Patricia Batista – In Portugal, schools still largely follow a traditional teaching model, where teachers are the central figure of knowledge and responsible for ensuring student learning. IITA, in its collaboration with schools, respects this methodology, which has its merits; however, our teaching process in the technical area focuses on student activity.
Our basic principle centers on an active and integrative methodology, with curricular diversity and versatile student training, with total integration of individual and productive work. The emotional and personal dimensions of student development have a preponderant weight, therefore giving space for the free expression of students and their active participation in teaching tasks, so that learning is meaningful and relatable to real life and never just the result of memorization or repetition.
Economic Life – What differentiates IITA from other institutions?
Patricia Batista – Our institute specializes in aviation, with the mission of attracting, training, and retaining the next generation of aviation professionals, which is pioneering in Portugal. Our students begin their aviation careers in the 10th grade and, after completing the 12th grade, either enter the job market, pursue different paths such as Ground Handling Technicians, Aircraft Mechanics, Pilots, Flight Attendants, Loadmasters, among others, or continue on to higher education. Our vision, “The right people, with the right skills, in the right roles,” promotes more specialized training programs in more areas of the sector. An example of this is our goal to soon launch, in synergy with some partners, qualifications in the area of Air Cargo Operations, among
others, which is rapidly expanding and for which there are few specialists,
and where we ourselves find it difficult to find trainers.
Economic Life – After completing the program, what challenges will students be able to address?
Patricia Batista – During the course, students will be exposed to the real-world context of the various roles they will be qualified to apply for upon completion. To this end, they will develop, in addition to technical skills, critical decision-making and leadership skills.
Transformational, intercultural communication, and adaptability to the rapid changes occurring in airport operations. Likewise, IITA, through
its Advisory Boards, is
abreast of the
latest developments in the industry, allowing it
to include and develop future-oriented
content and skills in its curriculum
. We
believe that three years of
aviation studies at the
secondary level will better prepare
students who intend
to pursue higher education,
enabling them to follow various
specialization paths and thus
be able to integrate into
national and
international markets.
Economic Life – How is motivation stimulated?
Patricia Batista – In our technical curriculum, we promote group work, team-building activities, debates, student mentoring projects, real-world learning through live streaming to the classroom and later during internships, immersive learning experiences (virtual reality), study visits, visits to the schools of guest speakers, and our annual Summit, where students will have the opportunity to hear various speakers, interact with our industry partners, and network. In addition, we will implement the Virtual School, in partnership with Porto Editora,
where our students will have access to
more interactive content.
Economic Life – What assistance is provided for the effective integration of students?
Patricia Batista – IITA is establishing partnerships with national and international organizations to guarantee students mandatory internships.
We aim for our students to become familiar not only with the national market but also the international one, opening more doors for their future. During the course, students will be prepared for recruitment processes and will have the opportunity to participate in “career days,” where they will learn about various organizations in the market and thus make an informed choice about where they would like to do an internship and work in the future. Given market needs, our partners guarantee IITA students selection positions after completing their internships.
Betting on partnerships
Economic Life – Do you consider investing in future-oriented training essential?
Patricia Batista – Absolutely. This year, IITA launched a Level I Aviation Cybersecurity training program in partnership with APPLA, and we are already working on Level II. We are also developing courses in Artificial Intelligence, Green Aviation, and Operational Network Management.
Economic Life – What potential benefits are amplified by the close link between education and the workplace?
Patricia Batista – Twenty years ago, the aviation sector was a challenging
yet glamorous industry. Being recruited was a privilege because the roles were seen as specialized, and as such, the process was selective,
rigorous, and demanding. Most people decided to apply to this
industry based on information and, above all, passion. With the various socio-political-economic crises that aviation has gone through, a growing skills crisis has taken hold, and today aviation remains a challenging sector, but with little glamour and limited training opportunities. Our ambition is that the rigor, passion, and glamour of 20 years ago return to aviation, with the inherent and necessary adaptations for the progress of the sector and society. For this to happen, it will also be necessary for industry organizations to reassess their recruitment process, compensation and benefits policies, as well as their relationship management with their employees.
IITA aims to be the link between academic requirements and industry needs, working with a 360-degree vision and in synergy with employing and educational organizations.
Economic Life – When will IITA arrive in higher education?
Patricia Batista – IITA aims to be accredited as a Higher Technical Institute of Aviation by 2027, so that our students can continue their studies in the various aspects of aviation after
completing the 12th grade. Our project is ambitious, as we would like to create an “IITA Village” that includes a training airport, but we are optimistic that, since this is a project of interest to the entire industry, the industry
will also join us to help us
achieve this goal.
