Students wanted for ESA Academy’s standardization training course
When working on a cutting-edge space mission there is enough to invent and develop without ‘reinventing the wheel’. This is why ESA is part of the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS).
ESA’s Education Office, in collaboration with ESA’s Requirements, Standards and Engineering Knowledge Office, are now inviting applications from university students for the third edition of the Standardization Training Course. This essential part of European space agencies’ and industries’ work is something students don’t usually learn at university, and is something they will definitely need in their future space-related careers.
Between 21 and 24 May 2019, the ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Facility in ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium, will welcome the successful applicants. During these four days, they will be given an introduction to ECSS and will learn from several ESA experts the importance of using standards and the impact they have on the way space activities are implemented. They will also be provided with an overview of how and why standards are used in different disciplines at ESA.
The ECSS established a coherent, single set of user-friendly standards for all European space activities. This goal is achieved by applying common standards for project management, for the development and testing of hardware and software, and for product and quality assurance.
It aims to minimise technical risk and cost for space systems and space products development, while ensuring the compatibility of all elements of a space project. It is therefore essential to everything that ESA does.
The course is aimed at students of Master and PhD levels in engineering interested in working in the space sector.
Upon completion of the training course students will be evaluated via an online questionnaire and will receive a certificate of participation and a course transcript, allowing them to claim ECTS credit(s) from their respective universities.
Preliminary schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction to ECSS System Management System Engineering |
| Day 2 |
Product Assurance & Quality Assurance Mechanisms Control Engineering |
| Day 3 |
Communications protocols Electrical Engineering Thermal Engineering |
| Day 4 |
Software Engineering & Product Assurance Structures Ground System and Operations |
Who can apply?
In order to participate, university students must fulfil the following criteria at the time of application:
- be aged between 18 and 32;
- be a citizen of an ESA Member States, Canada or Slovenia;
- be enrolled as a full-time MSc (BSc completed) or PhD student in a university (not graduating before the training course);
- be studying for an engineering degree.
Exception could be made for students enrolled in a scientific degree with a minimum engineering knowledge and a clear interest in the management and implementation aspects of space projects.
The selected students will be sponsored by ESA. The sponsorship will cover accommodation and meals as well as up to 200 Euros for travelling to Belgium.
How to apply:
- Fill in the application form;
- Upload a motivation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, no images);
- Upload a CV (Europass format, PDF, maximum 2 pages);
- Upload a formal recommendation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, including signature, no images) from a university professor or academic supervisor of current university;
- Upload a copy of academic records (PDF, in English, with the university stamp).
All answers and documents should be in English (except academic records if not available).
The deadline for applications is the 9 April 2019.
For more information, please contact tlp @ esa.int