Earlier this month Tunisia-based HK Consulting was recognised at a glittering ceremony in Dubai for its national BIM (Building Information Modelling) training initiative.
HK Consulting, an Autodesk Training Partner, received the “Workforce of The Future’ Award” during the Impact Awards Ceremony at The Big 5, the International Building & Construction Show. HK Consulting was recognised for its project to integrate BIM within the academic curriculum on a national level in Tunisia.
The Awards are designed to acknowledge sustainable development, as well as technological and digital achievements in the construction industry. HK Consulting’s programme was selected from hundreds of entries by an international independent judging panel.
It was our absolute pleasure to receive this international award recognising our efforts and impact in driving the digital transformation in the building and construction industry in North Africa.
In an era of digitisation, we know how important it is for the construction workforce to develop the skills it needs to revolutionise the building sector. We recognise there’s a need for the workforce to develop the practical skills and know-how they need in the workplace. Capitalising on the products of our partner Autodesk, this programme offered participants across Tunisia the opportunity to develop skills they will use throughout their careers.
Eya Hammouda, Managing Director at HK Consulting
On behalf of the KnowledgePoint team I’d like to extend our congratulations to the team at HK Consulting. This is a great example of how the Autodesk Training Network can have impact on a national and international level. This programme will clearly help existing and future generations to develop the skills they need for productive and rewarding careers. Bravo HK Consulting.
Tomas Karlsson, Senior Manager Channel Services at KnowledgePoint
With an international focus, The Big 5 event and awards attracts attendance from organisations across the construction sector. Sponsored by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of Emirates and Saudi Made and DMG Events, this year’s event was held at the Dubai World Trade Center. Attendees were drawn from the Middle East, Africa, Pacific Asia, and Europe.
Based in Tunis, HK Consulting is an expert in BIM, offering a range of training and consultancy services. Since 2017, HK Consulting has been leading in the implementation and execution of the BIM process in Tunisia, working collaboratively with industry, governments and academia.
For further information about KnowledgePoint and its role as the Autodesk Learning Partner Distributor for the EMEAR territory, or to find out about training local to you, visit: https://knowledgepoint.com/autodesk/
With a focus on the importance and application of digital skills in manufacturing in Africa, participants heard from speakers including Nicolas Ouma from the African Union, Grace Lung and Dario Pinto from WorldSkills and Ryan Vessey from the PIMMS Group.
A continent-wide skills strategy and how digital skills are fundamental to building resilient futures for African youth, were front and centre. Emphasis was placed on skills systems and policies which ensure that companies and nations are able to respond to industrial challenges today and coming down the line.
The importance of keeping up to date with the latest technologies and preparing the workforce of the future to apply these technologies were key messages from WorldSkills. Participants learned more about the organisation’s global role in developing skills excellence and excellence through capacity building and competitions – in particular what it is like to be involved in the mechanical engineering competition.
Participants also heard from industry experts including Kithinji Muriungi, IEEE – Advancing Technology for Humanity, and Samia Chelbi, NET-INFO. Showcasing practical applications of digital technologies, they highlighted the need for collaboration and on bridging gaps between manufacturing disciplines.
In the afternoon sessions, participants benefited from training on Fusion 360, applying the technology to a drone modelling project. They learned how the technology is used in practice, with hints and tips on how it can be built into university curricula.
This session also earned participants CPD credits awarded through the SAIMechE.
Day 2: Collaborating to develop the skills that industry needs
Taking a deep dive into additive manufacturing, day two of our Digital Skills Camp Africa reinforced the importance of collaboration and teamwork when it comes to developing the skills needed to boost manufacturing productivity across Africa.
Participants also had the opportunity to develop their own skills – and get rewarded with CPD points from the South Africa Institute of Mechanical Engineering too!
The morning session took the form of best-practice sharing, with real-life examples of workflows in action and training initiatives to develop skills to support employability and excellence:
Richard Hansen from Bolt Engineering in South Africa talked about how Fusion 360 workflows have supported business growth. With practical examples of how it has been used to solve customer problems – quickly and at relatively low cost – he explained how it can with rapid market-entry and provides a competitive edge.
Award-winning Emre Orkun a graduate from Istanbul University, provided personal perspectives on the use of Fusion 360 in the design process – for underwater vehicles! His illuminating presentation highlighted how teamworking is the fastest path to success, and the benefit of using Fusion workflows to ensure designs comply with the laws of physics.
Regis Ngenzi from Nziza Training Academy in Rwanda, talked about its partnership with Rwanda polytechnic colleges to develop digital skills for the manufacturing sector. Designed to support growth in manufacturing in the country, Nziza Training Academy worked with four polytechnic colleges, IPRC Kigali, IPRC Huye, IPRC Ngoma and IPRC Karongi. The program reiterates the importance of collaboration in skills development.
Tochukwu Clinton Chukwueke from Clintonel Innovation Centre, in Nigeria, shared details of the Nigerian Genius Engineering Competition. Designed to boost engineering education, the challenge brings together Nigeria’s brightest minds in tertiary institutions to solve Nigeria’s toughest engineering and manufacturing challenges. During the competition, students use precision machinery and digital technology such as Autodesk’s Fusion 360.
Representing the University of Johannesburg, Dr Kingsley Ukoba offered participants an informative overview of additive manufacturing (often known as 3d printing), including its history, its adoption and application. He provided examples from a range of industries, including its use in the development of engine block parts for the automotive sector.
Event partner, WorldSkills asked one of its skills experts to round off the morning with an overview of the Additive Manufacturing Skills Competition. Making the point that the adoption of many technologies lag because of a lack of skills, Steve Taylor from the UK encouraged participants to play their part in closing the skills gap. He provided an overview of the process involved, the expectations and criteria associated with competition qualification. Remaining current was also a theme as he highlighted how skills are reviewed after each competition to make sure they remain current and relevant to industry-practice
Inspired by the morning sessions, participants in the afternoon were treated to hands-on experience of an additive manufacturing workflow. They learned how the workflows are used in practice, with hints and tips on how additive manufacturing skills can be built into university curricula. This session also earned participants CPD credits awarded through the SAIMechE.
Over the last few months UIT Infotech (CADD International) has been supporting companies across Dubai to enhance their digital skills. The Autodesk Authorized Training Center, has delivered a number of upskilling sessions to a range of organisations, particularly those in the AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) sector.
With building information management (BIM) increasingly a requirement for construction projects across the region, BIM skills have been a particular focus.
Shiju Antony from UIT Infotech comments on the recent initiatives:
We’ve developed productive relationships with a number of major companies across the AEC sector in particular. We’re proud of the way we’ve been able to help them to upskill their staff, supporting them as they respond to digital transformation requirements.
For example, we recently delivered training to Orient Crown and Arif & Bintoak. They’d previously been using traditional CAD workflows in their projects and recognised the need to upgrade skills to allow them to implement BIM.
Our experience with and understanding of the Autodesk portfolio is critical for these employers. Jotun gathered together engineers from a number of nations in Dubai for familiarisation training and updates on AutoCAD 2023. And for 2GIS, a mapping company, their objective was to integrate AutoCAD in their mapping solutions.
Shiju Antony, UIT Infotech Training Institute LLC
UIT Infotech has been in Dubai since 2013 as an Autodesk Learning Partner, providing training support to students, corporates and universities. It is recognised for its particular expertise in supporting organisations with the transformation from CAD to BIM.
For further information about KnowledgePoint and its role as the Autodesk Learning Partner Distributor for the EMEAR territory, or to find out about training local to you, visit: https://knowledgepoint.com/autodesk/.
Digital technologies will not just change how things are made, but they will also require different skills for the factories of the future.
Join Autodesk Education and KnowledgePoint in collaboration with African Union and WorldSkills for a FREE Two-day virtual event, where you will learn from inspirational speakers about the latest digital trends in design and manufacturing. You’ll get hands-on experience of Fusion 360 with tips you can integrate into your curriculum.
Hear about the trends affecting the manufacturing sector in Africa
Learn about what the future holds for Fusion 360 and its role in the classroom
Explore skills gaps and certification needs for the workforce of future
See hands-on demonstrations of Fusion 360 workflow
Who should attend?
Advances in digital technologies hold the key to increasing manufacturing productivity. However, there is more to be done to ensure people have the skills needed to capitalise upon the advances in technology. By attending Digital Skills Camp Africa, you’ll build your knowledge and understanding of the sector, new technologies and the role of Fusion 360. You’ll be able to take your learnings into your curriculum delivery. Play your part in building the skills needed for the future of manufacturing in Africa.
Autodesk Learning Partners Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) and First Option, secured success in the latest Autodesk Learning Partner (ALP) Excellence Awards.
Awarded on a quarterly basis, the Excellence Awards recognise learning partners in the EMEAR region for high performance, innovation and learner satisfaction.
The ALP Excellence Award for Fusion 360 Delivery Excellence for FY23 Q2 was presented to Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) in Nigeria for its Nigerian Genius Engineering Competition:
An annual engineering challenge that aims to provide students with the skills that industry is looking for and inspire tertiary institutions to improve their engineering education.
In 2022 contestants were asked to design and build solutions for Nigeria’s power problems using renewable energy sources.
Forty-five tertiary institutions from across Nigeria entered the competition and those shortlisted joined a two-week training bootcamp. A team of industry experts were available to mentor and guide the students. At the finals in Aba the team at Clintonel delivered training sessions on Fusion 360 to help the students prepare their projects.
Engineering students from the four shortlisted institutions, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA), Federal University Otuoke (FUOTUOKE) and University of Nigerian Nsukka (UNN), made it through to the finals.
The winning team from University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) designed and built a portable water-powered electricity generator that can be installed in every home with overhead water tanks. It also included an energy management system, which monitors and displays power generation, consumption and reserves.
ALP Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance for FY23 Q2 was presented to First Option in Egypt for its educational initiative with The Ministry of Higher Education:
First Option will qualify university students for the digital transformation of the construction sector. The initiative supports Egypt Vision 2030, of which digital transformation is a pillar.
The initiative sees involvement from The Ministry of Higher Education, Autodesk, Egyptian Federation for Construction and Building Contractors, The Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers and numerous construction companies.
In total the project aims to reach around 50,00 students, offering them extensive training in technical and soft skills, as well as site visits. Combining both online and offline training techniques, the initiative includes an element of competition and culminates in graduation.
The competition element focuses on a project around Climate Change and COP27, utilising industry software
The best 500 students and engineers will complete 150 hours technical and coordination training, 80 hours dedicated to soft skills and CSR, and 30 hours on site visits.
On presentation of the awards, Tomas Karlsson, head of Channel Services at KnowledgePoint said:
The calibre of the nominations was really high, so it was a really difficult job to narrow down and select this quarter’s winners. Clintonel and First Option are really worthy recipients of our quarterly awards.
The judges were particularly impressed with Clintonel’s work to engage with Nigeria’s future manufacturing workforce. The students designed some really interesting solutions aimed at addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges.
We were similarly excited about the scale of First Option’s project in Egypt. The ambition to reach 50,000 construction students and professionals will play a significant role in achieving the Egyptian State’s digital transformation agenda.
At KnowledgePoint we champion the need for investing in digital skills, particularly through our work with Autodesk, and it is great to be able recognise our partners for their extensive programmes which support this important agenda. It is such a pleasure to recognise these two initiatives for the reach they’ve had in the Autodesk community.
The awards are managed by KnowledgePoint as part of the company’s responsibilities as the Autodesk Learning Partner Distributor for the EMEAR territory. The awards celebrate work happening across the Autodesk network, helping learners and businesses to gain the skills they need for success particularly in the manufacturing and AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) sectors.
For further information about KnowledgePoint and its role as the Autodesk Learning Partner Distributor for the EMEAR territory, or to find out about training local to you, visit: https://knowledgepoint.com/autodesk/
