Bridging the Skills Gap: SOLIDWORKS to Open 50 Training Centers in India

This week, Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS announced its effort to bring organized SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training Centers (SATC) across India. Over the next five months, we’re planning to open up to 50 SATCs that will provide engineering college students and professionals interested in building their skillsets with access to certified SOLIDWORKS training.

The need for computer-aided design skill is on the rise in India and the country finds itself in working to bridge a sharp skills gap. According to TechNavio, an analyst firm, India’s CAD market is poised to grow at a compound annual rate of 13.5 percent over 2011-2015. Establishing the SATC program in India aims to create suitably skilled talent needed for the country to take advantage of this growth opportunity.

The SATC program’s goal in India is to generate 15,000 SOLIDWORKS trained professionals each year. With more and more employers expecting job-ready professionals and recruiters focused on certified job candidates, the SATC program will provide the skills and standard certifications that are currently missing in the employment ecosystem. Further, the program will provide existing CAD professionals with the opportunity to stay updated on the latest technologies that will help advance their careers.

The SATC program is being built with the help of India’s SOLIDWORKS reseller community. Private training institutes are also encouraged to set up SATCs across the country. The SATCs will offer the SOLIDWORKS EDU (Private career) licenses on a subscription basis to those enrolled in the training program. Certified trainers, known as Certified SOLIDWORKS Associates (CSWA)/Certified SOLIDWORKS Professionals (CSWP)/Certified SOLIDWORKS Instructors (CSWI), are being used to create course content and instruct students. The basic qualification for students and professionals participating in the SATC program is the Intermediate (10+2) course.

Dassault Systèmes’ managing director in India, Dr. Chandan Chowdhury believes this program will not only create new opportunities for SOLIDWORKS partners, but it will also take great strides to increase efforts at creating a skill pool in the country. “This program will positively influence the employability of our nation and also increase the ability of SOLIDWORKS customers to more effectively leverage technology in increasing their competitiveness.”