First High School Worldwide to Initiate Engineering Curriculum With Technologically Advanced Platform

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — May 9, 2012 — Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced that Notre Dame Preparatory School (Pontiac, Mich.) is using Dassault Systèmes’ 3D Experience platform, including CATIA application for virtual design authoring, DELMIA for digital manufacturing, SIMULIA for realistic simulation and ENOVIA for collaborative innovation.

Notre Dame Preparatory School sophomores Zach Goldasich, left, and Guilford Guthrie demonstrate the new 3D Experience technology from Dassault Systemes in Notre Dame's computer lab.

Equipped with technologies implemented by today’s leading manufacturers, students are creating products -- from initial design through 3D prototype -- for a variety of industries, including automotive, consumer goods, energy, aerospace and defense. The 3D Experience platform and applications serve as the backbone for Notre Dame Prep’s emerging engineering curriculum, which supports the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education Coalition initiative focused on STEM education required in order for the U.S. to remain an economic leader in the global marketplace.

Whereas other product development solutions are document-based, the 3D Experience platform offers a unique object-oriented approach that relies upon a single server for data storage. All users have access to the exact same real-time information via a simple Internet connection, creating a collaborative manufacturing environment where the school will be able to share designs with other schools around the world and co-create products via social innovation.

Notre Dame instructor Katrina Palushaj and three Notre Dame students were introduced to the 3D Experience platform and its applications at a two-week engineering camp held at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), and sponsored by Ford Motor Company and Dassault Systèmes. Recognizing a new paradigm in engineering design Palushaj came away from the camp with a goal of increasing student interest in engineering careers.

“Advanced 3D computer tools are changing the conventional idea of an engineer as the guy in the short-sleeve white shirt with a pocket protector,” Palushaj said. “Dassault Systèmes’ 3D Experience platform is aligned with the way kids think today and makes it fun to learn, opening engineering up to a whole new group of people.”

Launching its first PLM class in September 2011, the school quickly had to add an additional session and will include an Advanced PLM Design course in its 2012-13 curriculum. Students who’ve taken the initial course have become genuinely enthusiastic about careers in engineering, using the 3DExperience Platform applications to develop a variety of products from watches to trucks to chairs to chess pieces. “When I took this class, I was not sure about engineering, but now I am thinking about it twice,” said NDP senior Jaclyn Borgiel.

Sophomore Guilford Guthrie commented, “It is so cool to be exposed to this software prior to college -- this platform has more features and is much more intuitive than I expected.”

“Plus,” added classmate Zachary Goldasich, “the idea of being able to collaborate globally through the Internet is really exciting.”

“We applaud Notre Dame for their forward-looking approach to education,” said Monica Menghini, executive vice president, Industry. “They are rejuvenating the concept of engineering as a vocation and setting the pace for other schools to follow. Implementing our 3D Experience platform is providing their students an advantage as they go forward in their academic and professional careers.”

Educators and students interested in the Dassault Systèmes software solutions can visit http://www.academy.3ds.com where products and support are offered at special academic pricing.

About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a Catholic, independent, coeducational day school. The school’s upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation’s best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) in four of the last five years. Notre Dame’s middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate “World Schools.” NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit www.ndpma.org.

About Dassault Systèmes

Dassault Systèmes, the 3D Experience Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations. Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. Dassault Systèmes’ collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. The group brings value to over 150,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com.

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