- eSchool News - https://www.eschoolnews.com -

Autodesk offers free design software to students across the globe

autodesk-design

U.S. students received free access earlier in 2014

Courtesy of Autodesk

Earlier this year, Autodesk made its software available to U.S. middle and high school students for free in support of President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, and now the company is expanding free access to its professional design software [1] to 188 countries across the globe.

More than 680 million students and educators from more than 800,000 secondary and post-secondary schools will be able to use Autodesk’s 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software for both in-school and at-home educational use, though commercial use is not allowed.

(Next page: Resources to help integrate Autodesk’s design software into instruction)

“The way we make things is changing rapidly, and we need a workforce ready to design for new manufacturing and construction techniques. 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,” said Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk.

The company also is also helping schools move to the cloud by providing academic institutions with its full suite of next generation cloud-based design products, cloud services such as the A360 collaboration platform, as well as maintenance subscription for free.

To facilitate the integration of design tools into curricula, Autodesk also offers free project-based learning content and resources including the Digital STEAM Workshop and Design Academy.

“Closing the digital gap in education starts by providing European schools with common access to the same advanced technology being used by industry professionals today. 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,” said Neelie Kroes, former vice-president of the European Commission.

Material from a press release was used in this report.