Prepare For Tomorrow’s Jobs? (NAPSA)—College students often hear grim messages about the expectations they should hold for job hunting—but there could be good news. Experiencing extreme anxiety about the competitive nature of job searching may be a rite of passage for graduates, but HR directors in the design, architecture and engineering fields would give anything to have a larger pool of applicants. The lack of trained peopleto fill engineering and technology jobs is a continuing trend in the U.S., due partly to a decline in the numberof graduating engineers for almost 20 years. Americans love new cars, modern architecture and moviesfull of special effects. So why are fewer Americans studying engineering and design? One reason may be that many students today are unaware of the exciting and creative career possi- bilities that often call for a strong background in applied math and science. Although video gamecreation, interior architecture, indus- trial design and aerospace engi- neering may seem like fascinating careers, the path to preparing for these fields is not transparent to students as they makeclass selections in high school and thefirst yearsof college. Some schools in the U.S. already bolster enthusiasm for math and science by letting students at every grade level preview design and engineering careers in their schoolwork. A project-based digital curriculum can take a stu- dent through a design or engineering challenge, while reinforcing math, science, creative thinking and teamwork. their careers thanks to materials from a leading professional design software company. Companies such as Autodesk, a leading professional design software company, guide the evolution of ideas into reality and hope to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers by placing professional tools in the hands of K-12 and college students. For example, curriculum and software from the company challenges middle school students to design ageappropriate projects that match their personal interests, such as skate parks, jewelry, bus shelters and the perfect paper airplane using real 3-D modeling tools. A new community Web site from Autodesk, http://students.auto desk.com, places free professional tools in the hands of university students and provides them with other resources, including job listings and help with design projects. With access to the tools they need to bring ideas to life before they are tangible, today’s learners may be inspired to engineer the perfect solar-powered engine, design the most sought-after video game or create important solutions in water or energy for developing nations. To learn more, visit www.auto desk.com/education.
