RECARO Aircraft Seating (RECARO), a global leader in premium aircraft seating solutions, is strengthening its commitment to workforce development and innovation in the North Texas region.
Through a new collaboration with The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), RECARO Aircraft seating Americas has committed to supporting the Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The NSF ExLENT project is designed as a long-term initiative, creating a structured link between academia and industry. RECARO Aircraft Seating Americas has committed to supporting the program throughout the full three-year period by contributing industry expertise to curriculum development, helping ensure alignment with current engineering challenges and industry requirements, while also supporting ongoing program evaluation and continuous improvement efforts.
A key component of the collaboration is direct engagement with students. Each semester, participating student groups will visit the RECARO Fort Worth site to gain insight into aviation engineering and manufacturing processes. In addition, RECARO will host two interns per year as part of its summer internship program over the three-year project period.
In March of this year, the first group of 19 students, accompanied by faculty members, visited the RECARO Aircraft Seating Americas site. The visit included a tour of the production environment and a Q&A session with RECARO experts, providing participants with first-hand industry experience.
The program provides hands-on experience, supports the development of skills relevant to the aviation sector, and offers direct exposure to industry environments. All training, scholarship, and internships are funded by the National Science Foundation.
This initiative strengthens engagement with future engineering talent and increases the RECARO visibility within the academic and aviation communities. By introducing students to real-world engineering environments early in their academic journey, the collaboration raises awareness of career opportunities in the aviation industry and helps build a future-ready workforce with practical industry experience.
“The NSF ExLENT program provides a valuable platform to engage with future engineering talent and support their development through practical experience. By collaborating closely with students, we contribute to strengthening the connection between university learning and industry expectations. Initiatives such as this play an important role in developing a skilled and sustainable workforce for the aerospace industry,” said Sunitha Vegerla, General Manager of RECARO Aircraft Seating Americas.
About RECARO Aircraft Seating
RECARO Aircraft Seating combines innovation with comfort since its founding in 1972. Today, the family-owned company is a leading supplier of premium seating solutions in the aviation industry for economy, premium and business class. Headquartered in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany, RECARO has a global presence in China, Poland, South Africa and the United States, with more than 3,200 employees and sales of approximately 710 million euros in 2025. Known for its ergonomic lightweight designs and a commitment to excellence, RECARO is Driving Comfort In The Sky, by constantly investing in R&D, while maintaining a focus on reliability, efficiency and sustainability.
About RECARO Group
The RECARO Group encompasses the three independently operating divisions RECARO Aircraft Seating headquartered in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany, RECARO Gaming located in Stuttgart, Germany, and RECARO Rail located in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland. Additionally, the brand is represented in the automotive seating business area by the licensee RECARO Automotive and in the child seat and stroller business area by the licensee RECARO Child Safety. RECARO consistently establishes the benchmark for innovation, comfort, and design excellence in seating solutions, supported by an international team of more than 3,400 professionals. With sales of 723 million euros in 2025, the Group underlines its strong presence in the global market.
Featured image credited to RECARO
