|
|
Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363 Date: February 26, 2004 |
|
UT System News Release |
|
UTA and Vought Aircraft Announce Collaboration
AUSTIN , Texas – Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. and the University of Texas at Arlington will enter into a major collaborative agreement that will give the university's aerospace engineering program a presence in the company's Dallas manufacturing operations.
The partnership, which was announced Thursday at Vought's Dallas headquarters by company officials and Governor Rick Perry, includes the company's plans to expand its manufacturing site in Dallas and bring 3,000 new jobs to the city. The Texas Enterprise Fund, a state initiative for economic development, will help provide funding for the partnership.
“The vision of our state's political leadership and the dynamic entrepreneurial spirit of Vought have combined with the commitment to excellence at UT Arlington to forge a strategic partnership that will yield enormous economic and educational benefits for the Metroplex,” UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof said.
“We are delighted to be part of this new team and to participate in a creative public/private partnership that will strengthen the research and teaching programs at UTA even as it broadens the aerospace manufacturing sector of the North Texas economy.”
UTA President James Spaniolo commented: “The university is tremendously excited about this opportunity to contribute across three vitally important fronts — in education and workforce training; in the discovery and application of new knowledge, materials, and processes; and in enhanced competitiveness for the 21st century economy. This partnership represents a major step forward in UTA's service to the Metroplex and the State of Texas.”
The partnership includes plans to increase the university's endowed faculty positions in aerospace engineering; establish cooperative educational programs for UTA's undergraduate and graduate students in engineering disciplines; create an on-site presence for UTA's faculty and instructional programs at Vought's Design Center in Dallas; and involve the faculty and UTA's Manufacturing Assistance Center in the company's efforts to maintain its global competitiveness.
Vought and UTA are still completing the details of these aspects of the partnership. |
|
END
Background Materials |
|
The University of Texas System Office of Public
Affairs || 210 West 6th Street, Suite 2.100
Austin, Texas 78701 || p: (512) 499-4363 || f: (512) 499-4358 || email: adebruyn@utsystem.edu |
