Rolls-Royce will make engine fan blades at its future factory in Seletar. It will partner ITE to launch courses to support the plant. -- PHOTO: ROLLS-ROYCE

BRITISH power systems and engines giant Rolls-Royce will partner the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to launch up to 11 new aerospace courses to support its future facility at Seletar Aerospace Park.

Many of the existing programmes offered by schools here centre on aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), but the new courses will focus on the manufacturing side of the business.

Currently, more than 90 per cent of Singapore's aerospace industry is tied to the MRO sector. But the balance will tilt a little when Rolls-Royce's new facilities are up and running.

The British company is expected to have its first facility ready by December. The factory will make engine fan blades for large aircraft.

It will be Rolls-Royce's first such plant outside its British headquarters.

Coupled with two other facilities it is building - a regional training centre and a plant to assemble and test engines - it will firmly establish the company as a key tenant at the aerospace park being built in Seletar.

Rolls-Royce's regional director for South-east Asia, Mr Jonathan Asherson, said of the tie-up with ITE: 'We are investing heavily (more than $700 million) in new state-of-the-art facilities in Seletar. When these are complete, we will be manufacturing leading-edge technology and we will need to ensure that there is a strong supply of world-class skills available.

'Partnering with ITE, Rolls-Royce will establish a strong platform to develop the critical skills that our industry will need to stay at the cutting edge long into the future.'

As part of the deal, the two will work together on the course syllabuses and training programmes.

The new programme aims to do two things - train Rolls- Royce staff as well as offer ITE students an opportunity to specialise in the work that the company will do in Seletar.

Mr Tan Seng Hua, principal of ITE College Central, told The Straits Times that the institute currently offers two aerospace courses which 'have been well received by secondary school leavers (and) consistently over-subscribed in recent intake exercises'.

The new programme, tailored to support the needs of Rolls-Royce, will complement the institute's existing courses 'to prepare ITE graduates as well as the existing workforce in the industry to meet the specific skills requirements of Rolls- Royce in the manufacturing of wide chord fan blades', he said.

Students will also have internship opportunities in Rolls-Royce, Mr Tan said, adding: 'Our staff can also be attached to Rolls-Royce as part of their continuing upgrading to keep pace with technological advancement in the industry.'

The new aerospace courses will be launched in the first half of next year, with total student intake expected to reach about 120 in 18 to 24 months, Rolls-Royce said.