Author: Tomas Karlsson

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.

• 8 November – The future of making
• 9 November – 3D printing

What to expect

• Explore the role of technology in manufacturing
• 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.  

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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.

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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.

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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/