Image courtesy of Dassault Systèmes.
The foundation will offer grants, digital content and training material to associations, cultural centers, museums, research institutions and schools within Europe.
“Europe has a rich technical and scientific heritage, and education and research that can build upon this hold the promise of a more sustainable future. Companies also have a specific role to play within society and can help inspire people to come together and foster innovation for a better, more sustainable world,” said Bernard Charlès, President and CEO of Dassault Systèmes.
The purpose of this educational content offering is to democratize CAD (computer aided design) and CAE (computer aided engineering), which have traditionally been limited to industry, engineering firms and manufacturing.
This is becoming an industry trend, where various CAE and CAD providers are offering free software and training to bring the technology into education. It gives these organizations the chance to grow their user base in the future.
Some examples of other organizations offering CAD and CAE software to educational institutions include:
- ANSYS offers Simulation Software to 500 European Universities
- Autodesk Brings CAD, CAM and CAE training to iTunes
- Free Autodesk Design Software Available for Schools Globally
- New Flipped Classroom Model Aims to Improve CFD Training – CD-adapco
- Dassault Offers 3DEXPERIENCE for Academia on the Cloud
- Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Software Available Free to STEM Students – ESTECO
- Online Learning for CAE Simulation – MSC Software
- MapleSim and SAE Partner to Promote Modelling in Education
- MSC Launches Academic Simulation Learning Center
- Free 3D CAE Simulation Software for Students – SimScale
The upside for these educational institutions is that access to CAD/CAE will also allow more education and research into technologies affecting us every day. Some of these technologies might include:
- Big Data
- Internet of things
- 3D Printing
- New materials
- And more
With our rapidly growing technical knowledge, educating the future generations of engineers and designers with textbooks is becoming an archaic concept. By the time you have put words to print they are outdated.
However, teaching through virtual technologies that incorporate theory, experimentation and 3D design may become a more practical way to represent the real world. This educational “digital twin” of real world concepts can link reality to the digital using simulation, CAD and the internet of things to ensure the most up to date information is available.
“Social and environmental engagement has long been at the heart of Dassault Systèmes,” explained Charlès. “We believe in the unique capability of virtual universes to enable interaction with the world in new and exciting ways, and to nurture creative thinking, innovation, knowledge and progress for a better understanding of challenges and their solutions. La Fondation Dassault Systèmes echoes our company’s purpose to provide business and people with 3DEXPERIENCE universes to imagine sustainable innovations capable of harmonizing product, nature and life.”
What software do you want to learn in your education? Comment below.