CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
14 December 2005
Implementation Investments
University of Central Lancashire Teaches Product Design and Engineering Skills with SolidWorks Education Edition
U.K. institution uses 100 licenses of SolidWorks 3D mechanical design and COSMOS design analysis software to prepare students for careers at global enterprises
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is using 100 licenses of SolidWorks® Education Edition software to teach engineering and product design fundamentals to students preparing for their professional careers. SolidWorks 3D mechanical design and COSMOS® design analysis software have the intuitive interface to help students quickly grasp the software, so they can spend more time learning how to design innovative products.
With more than 35,000 graduate and undergraduate students, UCLan is one of the U.K.'s largest universities. It originally purchased 30 licenses of SolidWorks software in 1999, but recently increased its total number to 100 to accommodate growing student and staff demand. Its graduates find rewarding jobs at global manufacturers as well as interesting consulting positions in the film, media, and video gaming industries.
"SolidWorks' short learning curve, ease of use, and friendly user interface actually encourage students to plunge into product engineering and design, rather than scare them off with complex screens," said Graham Hill, senior technician and professor of UCLan's Department of Design. "SolidWorks is a powerful educational tool because students can make sense of it, yet it has all of the functionality they need to experience real-world product development."
The bachelor's degree program at UCLan's Department of Design focuses on the aesthetics of product design as well as functionality. SolidWorks provides the sharp surfacing features that expose students to the challenges of designing smooth curves and odd angles for enclosures that must fit exactly with internal components. UCLan's Faculty of Design and Technology teaches fundamental engineering and design, using both SolidWorks and COSMOSWorks® to give students a firsthand look at integrated design and analysis so they understand the steps to bring a project from design to manufacture.
Second- and third-year students in both departments apply the skills they've learned in the first year to designing everything from sports sunglasses to toothbrushes and forklifts. SolidWorks' physical simulation tool helps them quickly identify and fix part interference, while PhotoWorksT shows them how to create life-like images of the projects they've designed.
"University of Central Lancashire product design graduates have gone on to jobs with global companies such as Kenwood, Hasbro, and Philips," said SolidWorks Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Rainer Gawlick. "SolidWorks and COSMOSWorks have given them the skills and the courage to tackle tough challenges, and the drive to find the most innovative design approach."
UCLan relies on SolidWorks reseller NT CADCAM for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.
With more than 35,000 students, UCLan is the sixth largest university in the U.K., with campuses in Preston, Penrith, and Carlisle. The Faculty of Design and Technology offers courses in product design, 3D design with digital modeling, computing, engineering, and much more. For further information please visit http://www.uclan.ac.uk/design .
Launched in the UK in 1996, NT CADCAM is one of the leading suppliers of the design software solution SolidWorks. NT CADCAM offers designers and manufacturers complete design and engineering solutions built around SolidWorks. The company also provides customers with comprehensive product data management (PDM), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), finite element analysis (FEA), and knowledge-based engineering (KBE) solutions. For more information, visit http://www.ntcadcam.co.uk .
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