ConnectNext: Empowering engineering students to be “industry-ready”

La Fondation Dassault Systèmes recognizes the ongoing challenge of talent readiness and employability faced by both the industry and the academia realms, particularly in technical fields such as engineering.

The educational landscape needs to evolve to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. In line with its mission to contribute to transforming the way we learn, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes in India launched the ConnectNext program in 2021 to address this critical need by fostering a vibrant industry-academia ecosystem.

Designed to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical industry experience, ConnectNext equips engineering students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the workforce. The program relies on a well-designed framework developed in conjunction with industry experts and academic leaders to transform engineering students into “industry-ready” professionals, innovators and technocrats.

• Industry-aligned curriculum to ensure students acquire the most relevant skills, including:

  • Model-Based Design Engineering
  • Design thinking
  • Digital technologies for design and manufacturing
  • SMART automation and robotics
  • Mathematical modeling
  • Solar thermal systems
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Product development prototyping

   

• Hands-on experience to tackle real-world industrial problems. Developed in collaboration with a network of industry partners gathering MSMEs, start-ups and subject matter experts, industry problem statements provide students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios and develop critical problem-solving skills. These statements are accessible to all participating academic institutions across India through a library. Each problem statement has a corresponding project card summarizing the issue. Detailed descriptions further guide students in developing innovative solutions using 3D technologies. ConnectNext gives students a chance to demonstrate their engineering skills, showcase their projects to catch industry attention, and gain proficiency via internship opportunities, while selected projects with qualified industrial solutions benefit from the ability to build working prototypes / VR experiences.

   

• Mentorship: a dedicated team supports students throughout the program, sharing their expertise, experience and passion to help students understand business needs, the value of 3D technologies in building a solution, and the continuity from the original idea through to market delivery and usage. The support team includes:
  • Industry Mentors – Dassault Systèmes volunteers or industry experts who provide industry insights and expertise.
  • Industry Project Champions – Dassault Systèmes volunteers who guide students in using 3D technology and virtual universes.

  • Industry Project Guides – college/institute/university professors who offer academic guidance and project supervision.

     

• Multidisciplinary collaboration: students work in groups for each problem statement, fostering holistic knowledge sharing and skill development, as well as effective teamwork and communication across disciplines.

• Industry-ready engineering professionals
• Enhanced employability and reduced talent gap
• Educators equipped with emerging technologies
• Nurtured future generations of tech leaders
• Vibrant industry-academia ecosystem for a future-ready workforce

Adopted by all United Nations member states, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. La Fondation Dassault Systèmes leads the ConnextNext program in meeting four of these goals: Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Partnerships for the Goals.