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Tag: Students

A new formula for inspiring Tomorrow’s aviation leaders

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

This year’s edition of Airspace World proved to be a success for our project, highlighted by a strong wave of interest and active participation throughout the event.

Central to our presence in Lisbon was our involvement in the Tomorrow’s Voices initiative, promoted by CANSO, which aimed to connect the next generation of aviation talent with industry leaders. Thanks to the collaboration with EUROAVIA and AviAll, this year our activity levelled up the experience for the young professionals we engaged.

A new formula for Inspiration

This year, the Inspirational Tours introduced a brand-new interactive formula designed to break down formal barriers between young talent and senior leaders. We welcomed eight students and young researchers as part of this experience. The innovative format paired structured professional engagement with the “The Insight Trajectory” networking game. Armed with career maps, the participants dove into real-world operational challenges, acting as career investigators. They engaged directly with technical experts, answering targeted quizzes on ATM technologies, artificial intelligence and future operational roles.

The new approach generated engagement across the exhibition floor. All were eager to explore the industry’s evolving landscape and discover long-term career opportunities within the aviation sector thanks to the involvement of experts frommajor companied like: Unifly Consulting, EUROCONTROL, Collins Aerospace, Murzilli Consulting, VIBE Solution, Frequentis, Nokia and ENAV.

The rewarding nature of the initiative was further highlighted by the ultimate prize on the leaderboard: an all-inclusive spot at the upcoming Engage 2 Summer School in Trieste this September.

The lively discussions held once again confirmed the huge value of creating informal, interactive learning moments within major industry events. By transforming traditional networking into an active dialogue, we are strengthening the connections between academic education and industrial reality.

As Airspace World 2026 draws to a close, we look forward to building on the relationships sparked this week and continuing to support the brilliant minds shaping the future of European skies.

The “Insight Trajectory” game lands at Airspace World

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 Insight Trajectory, a high-impact game designed to transform how students and young professionals experience, will take place at Airspace World on Thursday 28th May. Moving beyond traditional event tours, this career-strategy experience challenges participants with structured professional engagement.

Register now! Visit Tomorrow’s Voices page

Equipped with a Future Track Map, participants will step into the shoes of a career investigator. The goal is to navigate the exhibition floor to engage with industry experts in four key roles: Cybersecurity specialist, AI specialist, UAS Operations, and Airspace Management & Design Specialist.

The grand prize: a journey to Trieste

We are raising the stakes for the top performers. The first two participants on the leaderboard who successfully complete their mission will win full travel and accommodation to attend the Engage 2 Summer School in Trieste, Italy, from September 14th to 18th, 2026.

Inspires future aviation leaders at Belgrade’s “Transport and Traffic Business Days”

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The Engage 2 project successfully completed its third Open Day last week in Belgrade, marking another milestone in introducing students to the vast career landscape of ATM. Held as part of the “Transport and Traffic Business Days” (TTBD) organized by the Students’ Association of the University of Belgrade, the event fostered high levels of engagement and curiosity among the next generation of transport professionals.

Exploring the ATM career universe

On 22 April, the Engage 2 stand became a hub of activity. Students from the Department of Air Transport and Traffic, ranging from first-year undergraduates to Master’s level students, joined by peers from Logistics and Road transport departments, explored the diversity of roles within the sector. The interactive setup allowed participants to engage with project videos and detailed Job Cards, complete a digital survey to match their skills with one of the four Engage 2 job categories and take part in an “on-the-spot” ranking activity to visualize which specific roles resonated most with them.

Over 30 students completed the survey, with many others contributing to the visual ranking board. The results showed a spread of interests across the four pillars of the project:

  1. Operational: high interest was noted in traditional and emerging roles like Air Traffic Controller and Remote Tower Operator.
  2. Human-Centered: roles such as UX Researcher and HMI Designer saw significant engagement.
  3. Regulatory & Planning: students showed a keen interest in Airspace Management & Design.
  4. Technical & Innovative: the field remains a strong draw for those looking toward the digital future of aviation.
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Sky Roles: learning through play

The activity continued on 23 April with the interactive workshop “Sky Roles: The Guessing Challenge” More than 20 students participated in this fast-paced quiz, using clues to identify various ATM roles mapped by the project. The session was defined by a fun and competitive atmosphere, proving that gamified learning is an effective tool for demystifying complex career paths.

The two events not only met their objectives of collecting structured insights for project reporting but also succeeded in their core mission: encouraging students to reflect on their potential future in the ATM world.

A huge thank you to the University of Belgrade and all the students who brought such energy and insight to our stand.

Summer school #3 in Trieste. Registration now open

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Time to plan a trip to Trieste! The third edition of the Engage 2 Summer School will take place from 14 to 18 September 2026.

The event will be hosted at the Scuola Interpreti (SSLMIT), located in the heart of Trieste. Please note that while Engage 2 PhD students are guaranteed a place, other applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NEW DEADLINE! The registration will close Friday 17 July 2026 at midnight.

Click here and fill the REGISTRATION FORM

The Summer School is designed for early-career researchers, PhD students and young professionals. This year’s programme will explore current and emerging topics in ATM, providing participants with a unique opportunity to learn from leading experts and network with peers from across Europe.

Logistic

A limited number of rooms at a discounted rate are available at Opera Figli del Popolo (Largo Papa Giovanni XXIII)

  • Getting there: the accommodation is a 20-minute walk from the venue in Via Filzi, or easily reachable by local bus
  • Availability: 7 twin/double rooms (14 spots total)
  • Rates: €36 per night for a double room
  • Facilities: please note that this is a guest house, not a hostel. All rooms include an en-suite bathroom and the rate includes a simple breakfast
Wiki – Past editions for reference

A week of learning and collaboration in Braunschweig

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The second edition of the Engage 2 Summer School took place from 22 to 26 September 2025 in Braunschweig, Germany, hosted by Technische Universität Braunschweig. The event gathered 20 participants from across Europe, selected from 41 expressions of interest, to explore key research themes in ATM and foster collaboration among early-career researchers and professionals.

According to Thomas Feuerle, responsible for the organisation of the event: The Engage 2 Summer School 2025 in Braunschweig went very well from my perspective. We had more than 20 participants from all over Europe. The spirit was very open and we had many good discussions, not only after the presentations, but also within the different breaks or at the social event. The broad bandwidth of presentations clearly showed the complexity of the ATM system. I am very happy with the five intensive days, with the quality of the presentations, the engagement of the participants and the feedback I received so far.

The programme combined lectures from leading institutions – including TU Delft, the University of Trieste, the University of Westminster, TU Braunschweig, and EUROCONTROL – with presentations from PhD candidates, six of whom are directly involved in Engage 2. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, from modelling and simulation techniques to system-level challenges in ATM research.

Feedback collected from participants confirmed the high quality of the event’s content and organisation. The majority rated the overall experience, communication, and logistics between 4 and 5 out of 5, describing the Summer School as a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and build networks across the ATM research community. Participants particularly appreciated the diversity of topics and the openness of discussions, noting that the format encouraged active interaction and peer learning. Many expressed interest in attending future editions, highlighting the Summer School as a key event for knowledge sharing and professional growth in the field of ATM research.

Suggestions for future improvement included dedicating more time to hands-on sessions and practical case studies, alongside the existing mix of lectures and PhD presentations. The Summer School once again demonstrated Engage 2’s commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers and strengthening the links between academia, industry, and institutional stakeholders in the SESAR research framework.

Engage 2 at Airspace World 2025: inspiring aviation careers

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 took an active role at Airspace World 2025, held in Lisbon by contributing to the second edition of Tomorrow’s Voices, an initiative led by CANSO in collaboration with Engage 2 and Firstfruits Services. The programme is designed to bring young professionals aged 20 to 30 closer to the world of Air Traffic Management (ATM), offering them direct exposure to the sector, opportunities for dialogue with industry representatives and insights into the future of airspace management.

Thematic workshop. The future workforce in the Era of new entrants

A central moment of Engage 2’s participation was the first thematic workshop titled The Future Workforce in the Era of New Entrants. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities related to the integration of new airspace users, such as drones and advanced air mobility solutions, into the ATM ecosystem. The workshop highlighted the growing need for new interdisciplinary roles, such as architects specialised in urban drone operations and urban planners familiar with U-space design. Participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds engaged in open discussions, with younger attendees in particular pointing out a disconnect between academic training and practical industry needs. Many expressed the need for more hands-on learning and support in navigating the technical language commonly used in aviation.

Panel discussion: exploring career pathways in the evolving aerospace industry

The following day, on 15 May, Engage 2 contributed to the panel Exploring Career Pathways in the Evolving Aerospace Industry”, moderated by Micol Biscotto (Deep Blue, coordinator of the project). The panel brought together experts from leading organisations across the aviation and aerospace sectors – George Vergara (RTX), Snežana Tomčić (AviAll – Aviation for All), Nicola Ni Riada (IFATCA), Romulo Gallegos (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Sabina Zaharescu (CINEA) and Sue Meeks (Infina, Ltd) – who explored the skills required for the future, emerging roles and how to build a meaningful career in a rapidly evolving landscape. One key insight that emerged was the demographic shift currently underway: with a significant portion of the ATM workforce approaching retirement, the sector is at risk of losing valuable mentorship capacity. In this context, Engage 2’s mission to connect junior and senior professionals becomes even more vital, helping ensure that knowledge and experience continue to be passed on to the next generation.

Inspirational Tours: a guided journey through the aviation professions

Among the most engaging activities of the event were the Inspirational Tours, a new format developed by Engage 2 to guide young participants through thematic routes across selected exhibitor stands. Each tour focused on key professional profiles in aviation, including air traffic controllers, AI engineers, cybersecurity experts and U-space service providers. The tours offered an accessible and tangible introduction to both traditional and emerging roles within the sector, with particular attention to future-focused domains such as drone integration and advanced air mobility. Accompanied by a dedicated Career Passport, participants were invited to collect stamps at each stop and take part in short, structured conversations with industry experts. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and plans are already in motion to refine and expand the format for upcoming editions.

Engage 2’s presence at Airspace World 2025 reaffirms its commitment to supporting the future of aviation by facilitating meaningful connections, inspiring curiosity and bridging the gap between today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders in airspace innovation.

Future aviation workforce discussed at Airspace World

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, February 19th 2024 –  The upcoming Airspace World conference in Geneva will host a panel discussion on the future of the aviation workforce and the new skills needed for a transformative future. The panel, titled “Future Aviation Workforce and new skills for a transformative future,” will take place on Thursday, March 21st 2024, from 11:00 to 11:50 at the Frequentis Theatre.

Moderated by Veronika Takacs, Human Factors Lead Consultant from Deep Blue, the panel will feature prominent industry leaders who will share their insights on the evolving landscape of the ATM workforce:

  • Sharon Cooke, CEO of Airways International
  • Peter Kearney, CEO of AirNav Ireland
  • Diana Kelly, Chief Human Resources Officer at NAV CANADA
  • Ann Persson Grivas, CEO of Luftfartsverket (LFV)
  • Thomas Romig, Vice President, Safety, Security and Operation at Airports Council International at ACI World and Chair of the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce “Developing the Workforce of the Future”

The discussion will address the challenges and opportunities presented by the advancements in technology and automation in the aviation industry. The panelists will explore the critical skills needed for future aviation professionals, including the understanding of evolving technologies and their application in ATM systems, data analysis and interpretation, skills to navigate complex situations and develop innovative solutions and the ability to adapt to continuous change and embrace ongoing learning opportunities.

Future Skies: Tomorrow’s Voices is an initiative organized by CANSO, Engage 2 and Firstfruits services aimed at inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals. The full programme of the day, available here, includes two forum sessions where graduates and students who have participated in the three-day event will be able to share their insights and concerns, fostering an open dialogue about their experiences and takeaways. There is also a second panel on the “Strategies for talent attraction and workforce diversity”, as well as a Career Fair, offering invaluable insights and networking opportunities in the aviation and air traffic management industries.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of the ATM workforce and shape your career path in aviation!