BAE Systems considers corporate responsibility as a part of everyday management of a responsible business. It invests in social upliftment and environment awareness programmes around the world. At the Higher Education level, BAE Systems has strategic partnerships with 40 colleges and universities in the UK to build engineering research capabilities and improve graduate recruitment.

The research collaboration supported by BAE Systems, 'Towards Reliable and Smart Air Vehicles', fielded jointly by the

As a Corporate Champion, BAE Systems is sponsoring a professional and technical skills partnership between Ayr College, Scotland and Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Karnataka. BAE Systems will collaborate with Ayr College to develop a programme in Aeronautical Engineering. After engaging a highly qualified staff, Ayr College will carry out the necessary procedures to train the trainers of ITI Karnataka in Aeronautical Engineering, so that they can further disseminate the skills. Senior members of ITI Karnataka will assist Ayr College in the course development and dissemination. The teaching staff would develop the learning materials and instruments of assessment, which would be transferred through the e-learning environment by the IT Staff of Ayr College.

This collaboration will also be supported by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which will provide expertise and other strategic support.

This partnership is extremely crucial in the current increasingly global economic scenario. The emphasis placed by employers on recruiting skilled personnel has emphasised the skill gaps in several areas of the economy. It is with the aim of imparting professional skills that the Indian Government started the Industrial Training Institutes; however, a robust industry engagement is the need of the hour. The Sector Skills Councils play a similar role at the UK-end at a strategic and policy level and they further feed into FE colleges. There is hence ample scope for sharing of best practices between the UK and India in this field.

Ayr College offers courses in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, Construction Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Electrical Installation, Painting & Decorating, and Plumbing & Gas Fitting. It specialises in skill impartation, and a collaboration of Ayr College with ITI Karnataka will be of huge benefit to India and the UK  

In an attempt to promote cooperation through strategic partnerships, the Brough-Bangalore cluster of schools had an exciting first year getting to know one another. Primary, international and special schools from Brough have been involved in an intercultural collaboration with schools in Bangalore through the use of webcams and regular reciprocal emails.

Indian cookery workshops, art classes, henna painting and Indian experience days were organised as a part of this programme in some of the English cluster schools. As a part of the programme, participants made display bags with bears, dolls, artwork and shared them with partner schools to enhance the spirit of working together. Besides this, the Brough-Bangalore project also included global environmental studies and other such projects. There was a healthy sharing of information on the use of recycled paper, monitoring carbon footprints, effects of noise pollution, ways to monitor power consumption and proper eating habits.

On the whole, the initiative proved beneficial in strengthening relationships between the staff and pupils in both countries. It offered a good opportunity to listen, learn and challenge the perceptions of others. The lasting effects of this project will be felt in the schools for many years and will deeply influence the stakeholders as stated by a participant teacher