Implementing SolidWorks Certifications into an Engineering Technology Curriculum

The job market for recent and perspective Engineering Technology graduates is more competitive than ever.Increasing unemployment numbers, more and more manufacturing operations moving overseas and slower than average employment growth is feeding this competitive fire.Not only are prospective graduates competing against each other for employment, they are also competing against out-of-work engineers that have recently lost their jobs due to the failing economy.How do budding young engineers make themselves more attractive to potential employers?How can they prove that they are capable of performing at a respectable level without having had an opportunity to actually work in an engineering environment?Industry-recognized certifications can give these young engineers an edge.The objective of this paper is two-fold: 1) to express the need and importance of industry-recognized certifications in the undergraduate ET curriculum, and 2) to set up the framework for implementing certification exams in the undergraduate ET curriculum.Data and reactions from industry surveys, advisory boards and other constituents will be presented to validate the importance of introducing certifications.It is also important to note the significance of the certification content and how it is conveyed in the classroom.The intention is not to "teach to the exam", but rather to find out what information is important enough for industry to put in a certification exam, and then include that material in the curriculum.The object of an Engineering Technology program is to prepare students for the workplace.This is another tool that students' can pull out of their toolbox and prove to a potential employer that they are qualified for the job.