INDUSTRY

CONCORD, Mass., Students at Ghent University, one of the leading institutions of higher education and research in the Benelux region [Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands], are preparing for engineering design careers with SolidWorks(r) three-dimensional computer-aided design (3D CAD) software. SolidWorks announced today that Ghent University students are bringing project designs to life for everything from dentist chairs to bicycles using 100 seats of SolidWorks. Founded in 1817 in Belgium, Ghent University has more than 24,000 graduate and undergraduate students from around the world. The university chose SolidWorks over other 3D CAD products because students can quickly learn to use it to view and design projects in 3D. A team of two students working in cooperation with the school's department of medicine redesigned a dentist chair in only a few weeks using SolidWorks, a feat that would have required almost a full semester in 2D. "SolidWorks helps our students solve their design problems because they can better visualize their projects in 3D than with 2D drawings," said Rudy Desmet, first chief engineer, department of mechanical construction and production at Ghent University. "That's why we replaced AutoCAD and Anvil with SolidWorks. Students can evaluate designs on their own, without requiring teacher input. This empowers their sense of ownership of their work, so they become more enthusiastic about developing professional skills." More than 100 Ghent University students and 15 faculty members are currently using and learning SolidWorks. "Practical, hands-on experience is the best advantage these students will have when they enter the job market," said Rosanne Kramer, director of worldwide education markets for SolidWorks Corporation. "SolidWorks stimulates their curiosity because it makes solid modeling easy to learn. Students don't have to endure tedious lectures on how to use the software. Instead, they can quickly translate their creativity into real-world design. Ghent University will continue to send its graduates to meaningful jobs because they've got SolidWorks 3D CAD experience." Ghent University is working with authorized SolidWorks reseller CADMES for ongoing support.