The latest in a series of design software grants brings to R11-million the value of technology invested in the African Academy for Computer Assisted Engineering (AACAE) by Autodesk. Autodesk has been supporting the Academy since its inception seven years ago and its most recent R6-million grant allows financially disadvantaged students to learn drafting and design skills using mechanical design technology deployed by industrial companies like ABB, Bell Equipment, and Joy Mining Machinery.

Autodesk is installing 60 licences of Autodesk Inventor 3D mechanical design software at the Academy, which is a nonprofit organisation providing a technology skills transfer environment for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of learners at the Academy are from households with incomes of R4000 - or less - a month.

The Academy - which has 46 new enrolments in 2002 - has placed 84% of its graduates in the workplace. Errol Ashwell, managing director of Autodesk Africa says skills transfer alone is not enough. "Skills have to be relevant, and with industry shifting its focus from two-dimensional (2D) computer-aided design (CAD) to the efficiencies of three-dimensional (3D) modelling, it is essential that the Academy broaden its training to include 3D." Autodesk software provided to the Academy since it opened in 1994 includes AutoCAD, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, Autodesk Architectural Desktop, and now Autodesk Inventor software," says Ashwell.

For more information: Autodesk Africa, 012 664 8115, geo-south-africa@autodesk.com