Course in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future
300-hour online course in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 139/2014, requirements and procedures for aerodromes, Regulation (EU) 2016/679, General Data Protection Regulation, and AnyLogic. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future — studying from South Africa
Civil engineering is central to South Africa's infrastructure, from roads and water systems to rail and urban development. Transnet's freight rail network, the Gautrain system in Gauteng and metropolitan projects in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg create steady demand for engineers. Large contractors and consultancies, along with public agencies such as the South African National Roads Agency Limited, employ specialists in structures, transport and urban systems. Smart city initiatives increasingly combine civil works with digital monitoring and sustainable design.
Fees for South Africa: R 14 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African body registers civil engineers, and would SEIUM qualifications count towards registration?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and built environment professionals are registered through SACPCMP and SACAP. Registration requires recognised qualifications, supervised experience and assessment. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Whether they count is decided by ECSA or the relevant body and your employer, so verify before enrolling.
Will this programme help me work on rail or smart city projects in South Africa?
South Africa has ongoing infrastructure, rail and urban development work, with projects involving public bodies, engineering consultancies and contractors. Employers typically seek registered professionals with proven project experience. A private online qualification in smart cities or rail can support your profile, but it does not guarantee work on any project. Speak to potential employers about how they view it.
Can I study alongside a full-time job, and can my employer help pay?
Yes, the programme is 100% online, so you can study around work, though you need a reasonable level of English as teaching is in English. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with a technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many employers in South Africa fund professional development, so ask yours.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the trends that will transform airports.
Design passenger processes based on digital identity and biometrics.
Evaluate smart operations and automation technologies.
Plan the integration of new aircraft and energy vectors.
Manage innovation through roadmaps and pilots.
Ensure privacy and cybersecurity by design.
Develop an airport innovation roadmap.
Who it's for
- Airport innovation manager who wants to specialise in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future.
- Digital transformation consultant who wants to specialise in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future.
- Airport planner who wants to specialise in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future.
- Technology project manager who wants to specialise in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future.
- Passenger experience analyst who wants to specialise in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future.
- Advanced air mobility specialist who wants to specialise in Technological Innovation in Airports of the Future.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter airport management.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 139/2014, requirements and procedures for aerodromes
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679, General Data Protection Regulation
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2226, Entry/Exit System (EES)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664, regulatory framework for U-space
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, on Artificial Intelligence
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2405, ReFuelEU Aviation
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998, detailed measures for aviation security
- EASA Prototype Technical Specifications for the Design of VFR Vertiports (PTS-VPT-DSN)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Industry visions: ACI and IATA1.2Demand and capacity growth1.3Seamless passenger experience1.4Automation and robotics1.5Decarbonisation and new energy vectors1.6Urban air mobility1.7The airport as a city: the aerotropolis1.8Open innovation and start-ups1.9Innovation risks1.10Case study: innovation strategies of three airports
2.1Digital identity and biometrics2.2IATA One ID programme2.3Autonomous check-in and baggage handling2.4Electronic baggage tags2.5Tomography-based security screening2.6Automated border control and EES2.7Personalisation and apps2.8Digital accessibility of the journey2.9Privacy and data protection2.10Workshop: designing a biometric journey
3.1Airport digital twins3.2Artificial intelligence in queue management3.3Remote control towers3.4Autonomous vehicles on the apron3.5Robotics in baggage handling and cleaning3.6Predictive maintenance of facilities3.7Drones for inspection3.8Detection of intrusive drones3.9Data management and interoperability3.10Practice: digital twin use case
4.1Electric and hybrid aircraft4.2Hydrogen in aviation4.3Sustainable fuel infrastructure4.4Vertiports and eVTOL4.5Integration into U-space airspace4.6High-power charging on the apron4.7Microgrids and storage4.8Emerging EASA regulations4.9Scenario-based planning4.10Case study: integrating a vertiport
5.1Technology roadmap5.2Innovation laboratories and pilots5.3Public procurement of airport innovation5.4Technology assessment: TRL5.5Business models5.6Change management and people5.7Cybersecurity by design5.8Impact measurement5.9Scaling up pilots5.10Workshop: TRL assessment of five technologies
6.1Selecting the airport and its context6.2Technological diagnosis of the airport6.3Priority innovation challenges6.4Portfolio of innovations6.5Innovation roadmap6.6Risk and privacy analysis6.7Economic analysis of the innovations6.8Pilot plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is AnyLogic, Microsoft Power BI, Unity, CAST Terminal, Python with scikit-learn, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for designing passenger biometric processes, technology readiness assessment, vertiport planning and new energies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify the trends that will transform airports.
Design passenger processes based on digital identity and biometrics.
Evaluate smart operations and automation technologies.
Plan the integration of new aircraft and energy vectors.
Manage innovation through roadmaps and pilots.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme consists of 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with AnyLogic, Microsoft Power BI, Unity, CAST Terminal, Python with scikit-learn. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate the open-source alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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