Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Khalifa University of Science and Technology, one of the region's leading academic and research institutions, have successfully concluded their latest joint internship programme, marking another milestone in the two institutions' shared commitment to Emirati talent and advancing the UAE's aviation ambitions.

The intensive eight-week programme brought together a select cohort of ten of Khalifa University's highest-performing students, specialising in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science and Data Analytics. Selected through a competitive, merit-based process, the interns carried the strong academic foundations built at Khalifa University into a live operational environment, gaining practical experience across functions central to the airline's business. The deliberately focused intake ensures each intern receives meaningful mentorship and genuine project ownership, prioritising depth of experience over scale. The programme's emphasis on high-demand technical disciplines reflects a national drive to prepare Emiratis for future-oriented roles in AI, engineering and advanced operations.

Designed to bridge academic learning and real-world aviation practice, the programme began with a structured induction covering Etihad's operations, aviation fundamentals and safety standards, before the interns joined their respective Operations teams to work alongside experienced professionals.

Throughout the programme, the interns contributed to projects spanning engineering, fleet health monitoring, crew planning and the guest experience. They applied data analytics and artificial intelligence to real business challenges, developing analytical tools to support planning and decision making and exploring ways to create more meaningful guest journeys. Working as embedded members of their teams, the interns delivered practical outputs with application beyond the programme itself.

Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “Nurturing national talent is at the heart of how Etihad is shaping the future of aviation in the UAE. This programme brings that commitment to life by building genuine national capability in the disciplines that will define our industry for decades to come. Through our partnership with leading academic institutions such as Khalifa University, we are giving flight to the ambitions of the nation’s brightest young minds, creating pathways for them to develop the skills, experience and expertise needed to take this industry forward. We look forward to welcoming many of them into our specialised workforce, where they will help carry the nation's name around the world."

That capability is built inside one of the most demanding environments in the airline, where the interns worked directly within the teams that keep Etihad flying.

Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, Chief Operations & Guest Officer at Etihad Airways, said: "Operations is where the complexity, precision and pace of aviation come together, and it offers an exceptional environment for young UAE Nationals to see how their skills can make a real impact. Through this programme, the interns contribute to live projects across areas critical to Etihad's performance, from engineering and planning to data-driven decision making and the guest experience. As we continue to grow, we need talent who understand both the technical demands of aviation and the responsibility of serving guests every day, and this partnership inspires promising Emirati students to build their careers at the heart of our industry."

For Khalifa University, the programme's value is measured in the growth of the students themselves.

Dr. Waleed Alameri, Associate Provost – Student Affairs, Associate Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at Khalifa University, said: “What matters most is seeing our students discover what they are capable of when given the right opportunity, trust and guidance. At Khalifa University, we believe experiences like this are an important extension of learning beyond the classroom, allowing students to test their abilities, build confidence and recognise the value they can bring to real-world challenges. We are proud to see them grow through these experiences and return with greater ambition, maturity and readiness to make their mark. Their success is ultimately what makes partnerships like this meaningful.”

The programme forms part of Etihad's wider UAE National Talent Strategy, which aims to grow the airline's Emirati workforce across operational, technical and corporate functions. It also supports Khalifa University's mission to prepare graduates for impactful careers, together creating structured pathways for UAE Nationals to progress from higher education into one of the country's most strategically important sectors.