Industry Members Evaluate the Strengths and Weaknesses of Aviation Management Graduates

This study sought to identify the strengths and weaknesses that members of the aviation industry have observed in recent aviation management graduates. A review of aviation education and business literature indicated that prior research in this area has been limited to asking members of industry to identify (1) skills and knowledge desired, and (2) what types of courses would be most beneficial. No known previous research has asked industry members how aviation management graduates are actually performing. The University Aviation Association (UAA) organized the first meeting of an Aviation Management Committee during the UAA Fall Education Conference in Toronto, Canada on October 7, 2004. The committee suggested conducting a study that identified what individuals in the aviation industry thought were the strengths and weaknesses of aviation management graduates. That suggestion served as the impetus for this study. One hundred seventy-one respondents provided 170 usable comments representing 33 UAA member institutions. Comments were categorized according to four prevailing themes 1) business knowledge and experience 2) personal behavior 3) computer and technical skills and 4) communication and interpersonal skills. Survey findings are examined, interpreted and discussed. Suggestions are provided that could improve a graduate's ability to meet the expectations of industry. Recommendations for additional research are also provided.