University of Idaho Engineers Set World Record with Certified SOLIDWORKS Experts (CSWE’s)

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A Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert is someone who easily demonstrates the ability to utilize advanced functions and features to solve complex modeling challenges in all areas of SOLIDWORKS software.  A CSWE is able to solve practically any modeling problem given to them, and is traditionally the go-to SOLIDWORKS user among their colleagues.

Since 2019, eighty-four engineering students at the University of Idaho have passed 7+ SOLIDWORKS certification exams to achieve their CSWE status. This is the largest number of CSWE’s from a  commercial company or educational institution with an impressive 90% passing rate!

This is the largest number of CSWE’s from any commercial company or educational institution! To achieve this, the University of Idaho teaches students the basics of SOLIDWORKS at the sophomore level through a rigorous Computer Aided Design Methods course (ME 290) and then offers an advanced modeling technical elective (ME 490) to a select group of these students each semester, typically in their junior or senior year. The advanced course combines preparation for CSWP, CSWPA, and CSWE certifications along with exposure to manufacturing processes and safety training in an engineering machine shop. These students are then prepared to excel in their senior design projects, summer internships, and future jobs as the go-to modeling expert of their groups.

I was truly honored to sit with University of Idaho, Mechanical Engineering Professor and Researcher, Joel Perry, to talk about this great achievement.  Also participating in the interview were seniors, researchers, and graduates that have CSWE certification:

Christopher Bitikofer, Assistive Robotics Postdoctoral Researcher,

Jackson Stump, Research And Development Engineer, 

Ryan “Jack” Gonzalez, Equipment Engineer , Micron Technology,

Ian Glasgow, Advanced Nuclear Engineer, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, and

Keenan Bryan,  Mechanical Engineering Intern at Idaho National Lab | Graduate Student at University of Idaho.

Joel provided me with the history.  Professor Emeritus  Edwin Odom brought innovation in teaching and learning by enhancing the ME490 Solid Modeling, Simulation, and Manufacturing course. In 2018, Professor Odom stated, “Our popular technical elective course (ME490) has grown out of the need to infuse CAD, manufacturing know-how and leadership skills into our capstone design sequence (ME424/426).  The course has been in development for more than four years and ties together three important threads of project learning: Solid Modeling, Simulation and Manufacturing,”

In the curriculum design sequence, Solid Modeling builds on ME 290, Computer Aided Design Methods, a second-year course, where many students have the option to take the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Exam (CSWA).

In the advanced Solid Modeling, Simulation, and Manufacturing Capstone course, the layout of the classroom plays an important role in facilitating the learning process. The room was intentionally designed with a number of features that help students interact and engage with fellow students and mentors. The figure above shows ME 490 Mentor Christian Vega using a large instructional monitor to provide demonstrations to students.

Passing the CSWA, and instructor permission are prerequisites to entry into the ME 490 course, where content provides students an intense learning path to passing the following exams:

Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP)

Certified SOLIDWORKS Advanced (CSWP-A) in Weldments, Drawings, Sheet Metal and Surfacing

Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE)

As a practical supplement to the certifications, every Friday, students are in the adjacent machine shop learning manufacturing skills or in the classroom applying their manufacturing knowledge in the design process.  All University of Idaho engineering students also take a senior design capstone course to develop team-oriented project skills, such as project management, communication, prototyping, and product development, giving them valuable tools  in the short term for great careers in the long term.

The results can be seen in the  Dassault Systèmes Certification Center by selecting on CSWE and Idaho, USA to prove that almost 1% of all CSWE’s in the world are from the University of Idaho.

The University of Idaho engineers also receive guidance from Joel with his passion for research and development of novel electromechanical systems including design of robotics for assessment and training, wearable assistive technologies for neurorehabilitation, systems for telerehabilitation and rural patient care, high-precision robotic manipulators, MIS tool design, haptic systems and more.

In the Assistive Robotics Lab, students can apply their engineering knowledge and SOLIDWORKS skills to create instruments for assessment and training of arm and hand impairment such as the BLUE SABINO (BiLateral Upper-extremity Exoskeleton for Simultaneous Assessment of Biomechanical and Neuromuscular Output).

From senior design projects to graduate and post graduate research, new innovation continues to make a difference in people’s lives. In addition, students collaborate with various academic, medical, and commercial partners in projects such as the OTHER Hand, developed in collaboration with UCLA.

 

Thank you Professor Odom, Joel, and Idaho’s CSWE’s for sharing your achievements and program with the SOLIDWORKS community.  Thank you goes to our SOLIDWORKS reseller, Hawkridge Systems, that has worked with the University of Idaho in its education and research programs.

This CSWE certification includes a digital badge issued by Acclaim on behalf of Dassault Systèmes at the successful completion of the test. To learn more about the SOLIDWORKS Certification programs at Dassault Systèmes and their benefits to your students, please visit this link.

 

Design well, Marie

Marie Planchard

Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes
Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.
Marie Planchard

@marieplanchard1