IBM and Dassault Systemes Boost Computer-Aided Design Program at California State University at Northridge

Unique training program sees overwhelming demand from both undergraduate students and working professionals in the area

NORTHRIDGE, California (USA) and PARIS (France) - August 22, 2001 - California State University at Northridge (CSUN), IBM, and Dassault Systemes (DS) today announced that the two companies are providing a significant investment in CATIA Solutions software and services to aid in the development of a computer-aided-design software curriculum at CSUN.

IBM developed its Higher Education And Training (HEAT) program as part of an ongoing effort to develop engineering training programs at the university level. CSUN is now one of only two sites in San Fernando Valley, and among only a handful of Southern California institutions, where industry professionals can learn CATIA, the world's leading computer-aided 3-D design software, as part of a continuing education program.

The first CATIA course was offered in the College of Engineering and Computer Science during the fall 2000 semester. This spring another CATIA course will be added as part of the manufacturing systems engineering and management degree at CSUN. Although the courses are open to all engineering students and industry professionals in the school's continuing education program, plans are in development to turn the CATIA coursework into a requirement for the manufacturing systems engineering and management degree. The response of the students has been so overwhelming that the university has started offering CATIA courses on Saturdays for graduate students who work and don't have time to attend classes on the weekdays.

"The main reason I took the course was to get a brief idea about the use and capabilities of the software," said Gus H. Elias, a Q.A. Certification Engineer for Moore Industries-International, Inc. who took the course during Fall 2000. "I felt that it was a good experience just to get a feel for CATIA. Frankly, CATIA is an impressive and versatile tool that is vital in the industrial design arena."

CSUN Civil and Manufacturing Engineering Professor Ileana Costa learned about the CATIA HEAT program through her international involvement with the computer-aided-design community. "There is a high demand in the market right now for people who know how to use CATIA," Costa said. "Our graduate students in automation engineering and mechanical engineering have expressed an interest in learning this computer program. To be able to provide our students with the ability to work this very powerful tool is wonderful."

The CATIA HEAT program provides colleges and universities with the opportunity to build a state-of-the-art computer-aided-design software curriculum, using CATIA Solutions. The program also supplies training materials, technical support, an unlimited number of software licenses, computer-based training and hardware discounts.

California State University at Northridge (CSUN) is the latest institution to join over 100 universities worldwide in the CATIA Higher Education and Training (HEAT) program. IBM has licensed over 2,600 CATIA seats to schools throughout North America and an estimated 5,000 students have enrolled in the HEAT program. Students can choose to learn a variety of CATIA modules including 3D solid modeling, complex shape engineering, finite element analysis, assembly design, numerical control programming and rapid prototyping.

"IBM believes strongly in supporting innovation and helping to create integrated working environments for e-businesses," Ed Petrozelli, general manager, IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions said. "With the HEAT program, we are making the effort to educate the next generation of innovators and preparing them to work in the integrated workplace of the future."

"CATIA V5 adds a crucial dimension to the learning experience where students learn much more than creating 3D digital representations," said Philippe Forestier, Dassault Systemes' executive vice president for Americas Market Development. "V5's highly intuitive and bleeding-edge technologies help develop the students' creative abilities to explore alternative and possibly pioneer new engineering solutions."

http://www.ibm.com 

http://www.dsweb.com 

 

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