Autodesk has made its industry-leading design, engineering and entertainment software free to more than 680 million students and educators worldwide.
More than 800,000 secondary and post-secondary schools in 188 countries will be able to take advantage of free access to Autodesk’s professional software and services for use in classrooms, labs, and at home.
“The way we make things is changing rapidly, and we need a workforce ready to design for new manufacturing and construction techniques,” explained Carl Bass, CEO, Autodesk. “By providing free professional design tools to students, faculty members and academic institutions around the world, we’re helping get industry ready for the next phase.”
Earlier this year as part of President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, Autodesk announced free software for academic institutions in the U.S.. Since then, the design and visualisation leader has gradually expanded free academic access to its software across Asia Pacific and Europe with Autodesk’s full suite of next generation cloud-based design products, cloud services such as the A360 collaboration platform.
Karen Kaun, Founder of Makeosity, commented: “If we can help more classroom teachers incorporate learning through design in their curriculum, and technologies that engage students in problem-solving through engineering, students will see how math and science are springboards to careers as future innovators and entrepreneurs.”
Autodesk also offers free project-based learning content and resources including the Digital STEAM Workshop and Design Academy. Autodesk recently conducted a survey across UK schools that found that over half of UK school children hope for careers in engineering and technology but lack the tools in school to explore these subjects.
Neelie Kroes, former vice-president of the European Commission added: “Autodesk’s pledge to provide our schools, students and teachers with free access to its professional 3D design software will enable educators to introduce design thinking into our classrooms; equip digital natives with the design tools to learn to solve real-world challenges in new creative ways; and prepare the next-generation workforce with the 21st century skills to meet industry demands and advance our economies”
