Auburn Hills, MI., USA, August 26, 2009  Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, and Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan) announced today a partnership in the university’s four-week post graduate program called the PLM Workforce Development Short Course. Aimed primarily at displaced engineers, the intensive four-week course offered by the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) integrates business and engineering expertise. Students will be fully immersed in PLM, which relies upon collaborative mechanical design, analysis, and manufacturing software to support products from creation through end of life.

Oakland University’s School of Business Administration realizes that engineers who stay abreast of modern trends in manufacturing and process planning know that implementation of a PLM strategy is quickly becoming the standard by which successful companies bring innovative ideas and products to life. This course will help prepare the workforce for this growing application area.

“We are excited that we can be part of such a timely program, which can provide the technical skills needed for employing workers in this area,” said Roy Smolky, DELMIA Worldwide Academic Relations, Dassault Systèmes. “This is just our first step in developing unique approaches to education for area workforce needs.”

In addition to classroom work on the campus of Oakland University, participants will be trained to use several DS DELMIA digital manufacturing and production tools at the DS Auburn Hills training facility located just one mile from the OU campus. Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students will be fully prepared to take an independently administered DELMIA proficiency certification exam.

“This is definitely where things are going in industry,” said Robert Van Til, an SECS professor who helped develop the certificate program. “There is a real demand for professionals who are proficient in this domain, with the digital manufacturing side expecting double digit growth over the next five years. What we see as a significant differentiator from other Workforce Development courses is the extensive hands-on training provided by Dassault Systèmes.”

The course is being offered on a full-time basis. Prospective students who are unemployed may be eligible to receive tuition assistance through the “Michigan Works!” retraining initiative. The program also is open to working professionals who are able to undertake a full-time professional development regimen.

The PLM Workforce Development Short Course will take place weekdays from September 28 to October 23, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information on the program, call Dr. Bhushan Bhatt, Associate Dean at 1.248.370.2233 or e-mail to Email Contact. To learn more about Oakland University, visit www.oakland.edu.

About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.

CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.