Autodesk strengthens its global educational programs and partnerships

Autodesk, a global leader in 2D and 3D design software for manufacturing, construction, media, and entertainment, announced at its regional press conference Autodesk World Press Days Europe 2008 an increase in activities and support for global educational programs and sponsorship through new Centers of Excellence (COE) in China, India, and Russia, new and expanded partnerships with educational organizations, and the growth of the Student Engineering and Design community to over 225,000 students and educators worldwide. Given the looming shortage of qualified engineers in the USA and the demand for skilled workers in rapidly emerging countries, Autodesk is committed to supporting educational efforts to prepare the next generation of professional designers.

“An increasingly competitive world necessitates the best talents globally, and therefore Autodesk is more committed than ever to inspire and prepare the next generation of designers,” said Paul Mailhot, Senior Director of Autodesk’s Global Education Program. “To succeed in the global job market of the future, today’s students need to be proficient in the technologies that professionals use in practice. They must also be able to collaborate effectively across various disciplines, time zones, and cultures.”

Design has established itself as a competitive advantage, forcing designers to continuously come up with new innovations, work in global teams, and collaborate across various fields. To help design students meet these expectations, Autodesk has established long-term partnerships with leading educational institutions around the world and has founded over 14 competence centers in developing countries such as India, China, and Russia. These centers provide educators and students with the tools for digital design, interdisciplinary and project-based curricula, and state-of-the-art technical equipment to explore and successfully address new challenges in design. The institutions hosting COE centers are national leaders in their fields and have a direct impact on education, government, and industry.

Each competence center is tailored to the needs of students and customers in the respective region. This customization is made possible by the depth and breadth of Autodesk's industrial solutions and expertise, as well as the multifaceted support Autodesk provides through funding, state-of-the-art software, research, and consulting.

In countries such as Russia, Brazil, and Korea, relationships have been established with additional leading educational institutions to open more training facilities and centers of excellence. Autodesk also collaborates with nonprofit organizations to secure funding, software, and resources for education and to inspire students through project-based training and engaging, hands-on technical competitions. In providing a foundation for academic and professional success for high school and college students, Autodesk has made significant progress.

Educational Initiatives in the Czech Republic

The company's educational efforts in the Czech Republic include:

• Autodesk Academia Program, which is Autodesk’s collaboration program with the academic sector in design data management and sharing. Since 1999, 73 Czech and Slovak schools have received Autodesk Academia status, and several thousand students have undergone technical training with the support of some Autodesk™ software product under the guidance of certified teachers. The Autodesk Academia Program strengthens the individual approach and care for students, enhancing their skills, employability in subsequent vocational schools, and preparing students for entering the workforce.
• Collaboration with the ArtCamp summer school, organized as part of the development of international cooperation by the Institute of Art and Design of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. Using products like AliasStudio and SketchBook Pro from Autodesk, participants of the third year of the summer school held in July 2007 were able to dive into the secrets of digital design. One of the courses, Digital Drawing and Painting, showcased the current capabilities of computer tools in this area. One of the instructors of this course was Michal Jelínek, Senior Design Consultant at Autodesk and currently a leading contemporary automotive designer.
• Revit Open Competition, announced by Autodesk in collaboration with the Modeling Projects Cabinet of the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague (MOLAB) for university students focused on architecture or construction in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The goal was to create a design for a self-sufficient and eco-friendly structure for short-term, i.e., tourist accommodation. The structure was to take into account minimal operating costs, minimal environmental load, and its character should aim towards a low-energy house. The 3D model study will be addressed using Autodesk software, specifically utilizing AutoCAD Architecture, Revit Architecture, and for visualization Autodesk 3D Studio Max.
• Collaboration with the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (ZČU), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FST), Department of Machine Design (KKS), and the Institute of Art and Design (UUD) on student semester design and engineering projects. Autodesk awards a special prize for the use of Autodesk engineering solutions tools. The winner receives a prize in the form of participation in the annual Autodesk University conference, which will be held this year from December 2 to 5, 2008, in Las Vegas.

As today’s students face new challenges that did not exist 30 years ago, Autodesk is committed to helping educators prepare students for the world in which they will have to work and to equip them with the knowledge, tools, and qualifications necessary to address challenges and opportunities in the next 30 years. Autodesk will continue to expand its support for existing and new programs and partnerships to ensure a bright future for the next generation of engineers and designers.