A PART-TIME aerospace degree programme is now open to working adults who want to further their studies without quitting their jobs.

In a tie-up with key industry and academic partners, SIM University (UniSIM) has announced it will offer 100 places in the course every year from July.

The programme is for diploma and GCE 'A' level graduates who are 21 years and older, with at least two years of work experience.

It will cover avionics such as aircraft navigation systems, aeronautics - which involves aircraft systems and frames - and also aerospace management.

The Aerospace Systems Engineering degree (Honours) is supported by Singapore Technologies (ST) Aerospace, Singapore Polytechnic and Cranfield University in the United Kingdom - which specialises in aerospace study.

UniSIM is the second university, after Nanyang Technological University (NTU), to offer an aviation degree programme.

Sealing the partnership at a ceremony on Monday, UniSIM president Professor Cheong Hee Kiat said the degree programme is not intended to 'lure' people away from the industry but rather, provide good opportunity for upgrading of skills and capabilities.

It is estimated that the aerospace industry will need about 1,500 new people every year in a field that is growing double-digit every year.

But polytechnics, universities and other aviation training schools here are churning out just 1,350 aerospace graduates a year.