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Autodesk announced as Presenting Sponsor of Mechanical Engineering Design competition at WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Thursday, August 27, 2009- Autodesk, a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, has joined WorldSkills Calgary 2009 as a Platinum Sponsor and the Presenting Sponsor of the Mechanical Engineering Design (MED) competition. Autodesk's sponsorship of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 compliments its status as a Global Industry Partner of WorldSkills International and further cements its ongoing support of the WorldSkills Movement since 2007.

Autodesk's role as a Presenting Sponsor of the MED competition also includes participation as a sponsor of the Polymechanics/Automation, CNC Milling competitions, Plumbing/Heating, Electrical Installations, Industrial Control and Joinery Competitions. As part of its sponsorship, Autodesk will provide its Inventor®, Maya® and AutoCAD® software for use by Competitors. It is through these seven competitions covering multiple disciplines that Autodesk is hoping to inspire students to develop their skill sets.

"Autodesk is proud to be a sponsor of this very important educational undertaking," said Joe Astroth, PhD, Autodesk Vice President, Learning and Education. "Being an integral part of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 represents a significant opportunity for Autodesk to inspire the next generation of architects, engineers and digital artists. We are confident the knowledge and experiences students gain using our software will prepare them to meet the demands they will encounter in the workplace."

Autodesk's software used in the 40th WorldSkills Competition will be donated to Alberta schools, benefiting students across the province. "There may be about 50,000 students from across Canada visiting Calgary during WorldSkills, and we want to make sure that the excitement they experience at the event can grow through continued learning. Powerful Autodesk software, including Inventor, provides students with an opportunity to build on their passion for design and give faculty an additional means of enriching classroom teaching and curriculum," Astroth added.

"Autodesk's sponsorship of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is indicative of their support of global education initiatives," says Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009. "The donation of software from Autodesk will significantly benefit students and help leave a lasting impact long after WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is over."
The 40th WorldSkills Competition will see 900 Competitors under the age of 23 from 51 WorldSkills International Member countries/regions vying for international excellence in their respective fields. Competitors will be welcomed to Calgary with remarks by Astroth at a reception Aug. 30.. The Opening Ceremony is on Sept. 1 followed by four days of intense Competition. WorldSkills Calgary 2009 concludes with the Closing Ceremony on Sept. 6 and Half-Time Show at the Labour Day Classic Football Game on Sept. 7.

Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Backgrounder: WorldSkills Calgary 2009
WorldSkills Calgary 2009 marks the second time Canada hosts this international event in its 59-year history. In May 2004, at the WorldSkills General Assembly in Hong Kong, Calgary officially won the right to host the WorldSkills Competition. The successful bid was made possible through collaboration with WorldSkills International's Canadian Member organization Skills/Compétences Canada and industry, educational institutions, government and the City of Calgary. WorldSkills Calgary 2009, a not-for-profit corporation is responsible for the planning, execution and legacy for the 40th WorldSkills Competition.

 

For the past five years, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 has been working closely with legacy, government, and industry partners to make the 40th WorldSkills Competition the most successful to date. Although the event is held from September 1 - 7, 2009, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 has been working with legacy partners to actively help the global skills movement that addresses labour shortage, competency standards, and education programs designed to motivate and encourage young adults to explore successful career options in skills, trades, and technologies.

 

Backgrounder: WorldSkills International

 

WorldSkills International's (WSI) mission is to promote, through the cooperative action of 51 Members countries/regions, a worldwide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and personal fulfillment. WSI provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades, information technologies and service sectors of the global economy. WSI works at all levels from grassroots to senior policy makers to affect change in training procedures, policy development and international standards. Through advocacy, education and Competitions, WorldSkills International is raising the level of competences throughout the world and bringing new awareness to these crucial sectors in the global economy. Without skills there is no economy.

worldskills.org

Skills/Compétences Canada

Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC) was founded in 1989 as a national, not-for-profit organization to actively promote careers in skilled trades and technologies to Canadian youth. S/CC works with private and public sector partners to help secure Canada's future skilled labour needs while helping Canadian youth discover rewarding careers. S/CC offers experiential learning opportunities for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians including skills, trades, and technologies competitions through regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well as skills, trades, and technologies awareness programs. Headquartered in Canada's National Capital Region Skills/Compétences Canada is the Canadian Member organization of WorldSkills International and in partnership with other stakeholders created the 40th WorldSkills Competition event organizing committee WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

skillscanada.com

WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Alesia Fieldberg
Media Relations Coordinator
Direct Line: 01 403 774 5138
Mobile: 01 403 818 6160
Email: alesia.fieldberg@worldskills2009.com
Website: http://www.worldskills2009.com

 

Skills/Compétences Canada
Christianne Scholfield
Director Pan-Canadian Partnership Development
Direct Line: 01 819 771 7545 ext. 1
Fax: 01 819 771 5575
Toll Free: 1 877 754 5226
Website: http://www.skillscanada.com/

 

WorldSkills International
Michelle Bussey
Secretariat - Communications and Marketing Director
Direct Line: +1 902 450 5412
Fax: +31 23 531 0816
Mobile: +1 902 441 7041
Email: michelle.bussey@worldskills.org
Website: http://www.worldskills.org/


More information is available at www.worldskills2009.com.