Airbus Partners with South to Grow the Next Generation of Industry Professionals
Posted on October 21, 2025
黑料吃瓜网 President Jo Bonner and Airbus in North America Chairman and CEO Robin Hayes announced today a new partnership between the University and one of the world鈥檚 largest aerospace companies. The announcement is the first step in establishing an Airbus presence at 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Research and Technology Park that would expand internship and research opportunities.
鈥淲e want to create real meaningful, tangible partnerships and solutions that can help us with some of the challenges of tomorrow,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淲e want to harness the power of partnership with the 黑料吃瓜网 to conduct industry benchmarking, support curriculum development and research efforts and create internships to give students critical working experience while providing Airbus amazing talent for us hire from over time. And we can鈥檛 think of a better way of doing that than to physically join the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Technology Park to drive collaboration and serve as that anchor 鈥� that keystone 鈥� to support and recruit new innovation and business partners into the Technology Park.鈥�
The announcement was made at the MacQueen Alumni Center at the fourth annual 黑料吃瓜网 Research and Technology Showcase, an event that highlighted the work of four University of South Alabama researchers.
While details continue to be finalized, Airbus plans to relocate to campus its growing Mobile-based U.S. Engineering Center. Its new location would provide the company proximity to 黑料吃瓜网 faculty and student talent and its employees with nearby access to exceptional medical and recreational facilities.
鈥淥n behalf of our board of trustees, on behalf of our 100,000 proud alumni, our 14,285 students and counting, we welcome you with open arms to our Research and Technology Park,鈥� said University President Jo Bonner. 鈥淲e thank you from the bottom of our heart for expressing confidence in our outstanding College of Engineering, our Mitchell College of Business and all the other academic units that will stand shoulder to shoulder with Airbus as we look to build that next generation of talent. We believe that we are a talent machine, and we believe in partnering with Airbus, we鈥檙e partnering with the world's most innovative, forward looking visionary, aerospace company.鈥�
A timeline for moving Airbus employees is being developed as details of the agreement are finalized. The Research and Technology Park is located off University Boulevard on the north side of campus.
鈥淲e鈥檒l work together to build an engineering talent pipeline in quality and business, and we鈥檒l give students the chance to work with our teams on real projects,鈥� Hayes said in prepared remarks. 鈥淭his will be more than a building. It鈥檚 a promise to the future of aerospace. It鈥檚 a pledge to invest in people, to create not just aerospace jobs, but also careers to continue propelling this region to lead the next era of flight.鈥�
