PHYSICS

Sweden's largest technical university, the Royal Institute of Technology, has purchased 500 licenses each of SolidWorks® 3D mechanical design and COSMOSWorks™ design analysis software to train engineering students with the tools they will use in their careers. The purchase allows students to work on real-world design projects supplied by area manufacturers, who are eager to hire graduates from the institution. The Royal Institute of Technology produces one-third of Sweden's engineering graduates. It has more than 11,000 undergraduate students, 1,500 active postgraduate students, and 3,100 staff and faculty members. Students at all levels of the university will be able to use SolidWorks to work in research and development projects supplied by Swedish industry. Students in the schools of Mechanical Engineering, Design and Product Realization and Vehicle Engineering use computer-aided design (CAD) software beginning in their first year and running through their fifth year, steadily building a proficiency and understanding of manufacturing and design processes. “SolidWorks is coming on strong,” said Lasse Wingård, associate professor in Computer Systems for Design and Manufacturing. “It is clearly a powerful and well-structured system. Companies working with our students are using SolidWorks, so it's hardly a coincidence that we're purchasing SolidWorks now. We have to provide our students with the tools that industry uses and requests. Students have found the system powerful and easy to learn. In addition, many of our students have heard of SolidWorks and some have even asked us why we weren't using it.” The university has also seen an increase in Swedish industry's use of design analysis software and has purchased COSMOSWorks to help prepare them to handle any request from the companies that have special projects. COSMOSWorks is design analysis and optimization software that tests designs under simulated real-world conditions before spending time and money on prototypes. “The Royal Institute of Technology demonstrates every day why it is a leader in engineering education,” said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks Corporation . “The university closely monitors the needs of Swedish industry and positions students to satisfy those needs, benefiting everyone involved. This is a strong example of the SolidWorks community at work in Sweden.” MP Engineering AB, an authorized SolidWorks reseller, is providing ongoing software support and training to Royal Institute of Technology students, faculty, and staff.