SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has embraced Autodesk Inventor software as part of the curriculum for its Mechanical and Aerospace Design program. The integration of Inventor into the curriculum will help ensure that students are up-to-date with the latest in both 2D and 3D software developments, giving students a competitive edge in the job market.

"We were already using AutoCAD software very successfully and our decision to introduce Inventor was equally successful," said Dr. Nate Delson, director of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Design Center at UCSD. "The support we have received from Autodesk has been tremendous -- from training through to providing software for students. At MAE we believe that 2D CAD is a useful skill and helpful stepping-stone, so combining AutoCAD with Inventor in a single course works well for us."

Autodesk Inventor -- the foundation for digital prototyping, enabling users to validate design and engineering data as they work -- has been part of the Jacobs School's MAE curriculum for over five years and is taught using both lecture and tutorial formats. All students in the Mechanical and Aerospace Design program are initially exposed to the software in the Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design course, taught by Dr. Delson, and continue to use it throughout their studies.

To further their learning, numerous UCSD students have also taken advantage of the new Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community, an online community that provides free* access to software and resources, including job and internship listings, peer networking and advice from industry experts.

Essential in School and Real World

Inventor software is a major component of the Jacobs School's quarterly robot competition, which serves as the students' final project in Dr. Delson's Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Design course. Over a two-month period, teams of students use Inventor to design and build a machine using DC motors, solenoids, rapid prototyping and fabrication tools. These machines then compete against each other in a head-to-head competition.

"Inventor is user-friendly and easy to understand, two important things when you're a student learning something new," said Dor Ashur, a fourth-year student at the Jacobs School. "Being able to apply my Inventor skills during the robot project was valuable hands-on experience I can now take into the workplace, and it helped me successfully land an internship at UCLA."

This success is consistent with the Jacobs School's entrepreneurial mission: to educate tomorrow's technology leaders, seek discoveries that fuel economic prosperity of the nation, and enhance the quality of life for people everywhere.

"Partnering with companies like Autodesk helps keep our student skills relevant and fresh," said Dr. Delson. "Our students are also able to land professional opportunities after their freshmen year as a result of their CAD skill set."

"Autodesk is committed to education and excited to help shape the engineers of tomorrow," said Alan Jacobs, senior manager of Education Programs at Autodesk. "Our contribution to the esteemed engineering program at UCSD means that students are working with real-world tools and learning skills that will prove essential to their future careers."

Any student or educator is invited to participate in the Student Engineering and Design Community at www.autodesk.com/school.

About the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering

The UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering is a premier research school set apart by its entrepreneurial culture and integrative engineering approach. It is the youngest and fastest rising among the nation's top 15 engineering schools, and the largest engineering school in the renown University of California system. Jacobs School graduates understand how to think through engineering problems toward creative solutions. They pursue a thriving research agenda, and the Jacobs School ranks third in the country for research expenditures per faculty member. Located at the hub of San Diego's thriving technology industry, the Jacobs School proactively seeks corporate partners to collaborate in education and innovation.

About Autodesk Education

Autodesk supports worldwide academic achievement and lifelong learning by providing 2D and 3D solutions for teaching and learning design in the fields of manufacturing, industrial design, architecture, construction, civil engineering and media and entertainment. Autodesk is committed to helping the next generation of engineers, architects and designers experience their ideas before they are real by making state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions available inside and outside of the classroom through substantial discounts, subscriptions, grant programs, training, curricula development and community resources. For more information about Autodesk education programs and solutions, visit http://www.autodesk.com/education.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

Contact: Rosemary Mori 415.547.2474 Alyson Howard Moses 312.297.7430
Email: rosemary.mori@autodesk.com alyson.howard@edelman.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. 08/01/2007


Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
(ADSK)


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