皇家墨尔本理工大学的学生将前往美国帮助劳斯莱思公司研发F35战斗机引擎。通用电气劳斯莱斯的F136战斗机引擎项目是全球最大的军事引擎项目之一。皇家墨尔本理工大学是澳大利亚唯一一个参与的大学，全世界也就只有3个大学有此殊荣。

RMIT University students will travel to the USA to help develop the engine that will power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The GE Rolls-Royce F136 fighter engine program is one of the world’s biggest military engine projects. RMIT is the only Australian university involved, and one of only three worldwide.

Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between RMIT and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team, two RMIT students at a time will spend four to six months with Rolls-Royce in Plainfield, Indiana, working with teams designing and manufacturing the engine.

RMIT students have already helped with autonomic logistics and are now likely to be involved in other areas.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, welcomed the partnership. “The collaboration with the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team is further evidence of RMIT’s commitment to work-integrated learning and to producing graduates with the skills needed in a global economy.”

Ted Kappes, Director of Business Development for the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team, said: “The involvement of RMIT, together with the design and manufacturing work being carried out by companies like Production Parts, means that Australia is making a key contribution to the F136 program.”
Professor Sylvester Abanteriba, Research Leader of Propulsion at RMIT, said: “The knowledge gained by our students over the next few years will benefit the Australian aerospace industry well into the future.”

RMIT’s partnership with the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team is part of the RMIT International Industry Experience and Research Program (RIIERP), which Professor Abanteriba directs.

The relationship with Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis started in 2005 when Rolls-Royce accepted RIIERP’s 1000th student.

Terence Bate from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering joined the Joint Strike Fighter team for six months. Mr Bate has since graduated and is working with GKN Aerospace in Port Melbourne.
“Rolls-Royce discovered this student to have exceptional and desirable skills and decided that it would be mutually beneficial to have a long-term relationship,” said Professor Abanteriba.

“The company has since accepted three RMIT students for internship and is now exploring other avenues engagement with RMIT. Jason Seris is currently undertaking an internship and Warwick Cann will be the next student to head to Indiana.”

John Boughton, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, and Professor Daine Alcorn, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Science, Engineering and Technology, RMIT University, at an event held at the Avalon airshow to mark the Memorandum of Understanding.

RMIT student Jason Seris, a current intern with Rolls-Royce; Professor Daine Alcorn, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Science, Engineering and Technology; John Boughton, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace; Professor Sylvester Abanteriba, Research Leader of Propulsion at RMIT; and Ted Kappes, Director of Business Development for the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team, at Avalon.

Jason Seris and Warwick Cann – current and future RMIT interns with Rolls-Royce.

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