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Issue Date: 27th February 2008

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Computer Aided Design Sussex schools project launch

Scheme to teach young people how to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) launched at The Forest School, Comptons Lane, Horsham, West Sussex,
26 February 2008.

CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX, UK. (27 February 2008) - Three Sussex schools, The Forest School, Horsham; Imberhorne School in East Grinstead, and Longhill High School, Rottingdean, are taking part in a trial to teach pupils between 11 and 18 years of age how to use leading 3D CAD software, CATIA, the industry standard for industrial designers and engineers. The project is being sponsored by Edwards, the Sussex based global vacuum technology company, their software suppliers Dassault Systèmes and Applied CAE, software support consultancy, who are providing training for technology teachers and the University of Brighton.

As well as teaching the students a valuable skill, which forms part of their GCSE and A level engineering courses, one of the aims of the project is to encourage young people to consider engineering as a career by giving them unique 'hands on' product design and development experience. Commercially, Dassault Systèmes' CATIA software is used to design the full virtual product, from initial concept creation to prototyping and programming the manufacturing equipment that will produce the component parts.

To give the students practical experience of using the skills they have learned, Tim Draper, Edwards computer aided engineering manager and Joe Farr, a design engineer at the University of Brighton, have developed a design competition which students will enter as part of their CAD course.

The competition, to design a pen and holder, will encourage students to think about all the aspects of good design, including aesthetic appeal, functionality, and its ability to be mass produced, as well as requiring them to demonstrate that they can use the skills they have been taught. The best design from each school will win an iPOD Touch sponsored by Dassault Systèmes.

Chris Clarke, director of learning - technology, at Forest School said, "We are delighted with the support we are receiving from Edwards and their suppliers. Their hands-on involvement has enabled us to provide a greatly enhanced and comprehensive CAD course for students which relates specifically to a real industrial application. It is a great introduction for our students which hopefully will encourage them to consider engineering as a career."

The SEEDA funded project is being supported by SETPOINT Sussex in conjunction with The Industrial Trust as part of their e4 (engaging employers, enriching education) initiative. The aim of e4 is to develop links between business and education for mutual benefit, it is dedicated to delivering inspirational and relevant experiences leading to increased numbers of young people pursuing further education that relates to the businesses they are linked with. The e4 programme which is being sponsored by SEEDA has been launched in Sussex and Oxford with a view to rolling out the programme throughout the rest of the South East of England.

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