SOLIDWORKS SkillForce Program
Join CADVision Systems in a collective effort to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Learn how you can participate as an educational institution, an industry company, or a student intern.
About SOLIDWORKS SkillForce
SOLIDWORKS SkillForce is a global initiative by Dassault Systèmes, the parent company behind SOLIDWORKS. It aims to foster stronger connections between educational institutions and companies that provide students with internship or work-based learning opportunities.
One specific contribution this program makes is the provision of temporary, free SOLIDWORKS licenses* to eligible students who are on internship or work-based learning. This allows students to gain more hands-on experience with industry-grade CAD tools, at the same time contributing to their host companies’ design and engineering works.
*3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Premium / SOLIDWORKS Premium with Cloud Services
Who Are, or Should Be Part of SOLIDWORKS SkillForce?
In this collective effort to strengthen the bridge between education and industry, several groups play a vital role in making the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program effective and sustainable:
Institutes of Higher Learning
Polytechnics, universities, colleges, and other higher education and training institutes
Students
Individuals enrolled in these institutions and pursuing internship or work-based learning opportunities
Industry Partners
Companies and organizations that host student interns and provide real-world learning environments
Technology Partners
Dassault Systèmes and CADVision Systems, who coordinate and support the implementation of the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program
What SOLIDWORKS SkillForce Means for Different Stakeholders
The SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program addresses key challenges experienced by educators, students, and companies, offering practical and future-oriented solutions to help each participating stakeholder succeed:
Institutes of Higher Learning & Students
Challenges | How SOLIDWORKS SkillForce Program Helps |
|---|---|
Institutes having limited resources to provide Students training and certification opportunities in engineering tools like SOLIDWORKS | Technology Partners to supplement with online training (teaching, tracking, and testing resources), and create more accessible pathways for SOLIDWORKS certifications |
Institutes having limited tracking or control of how Students are using their educational license, or visibility on any skill gaps during Students’ internship | Industry & Technology Partners can provide timely feedback to Educators to support more relevant, industry-aligned learning pathways |
Institues want to strengthen programme enrolment; Students aim to improve their chances of being hired as interns or fresh graduates | Instituites & Students can demonstrate stronger industry relevance. This positions Institutions as more attractive to prospective learners, and Students as more capable and resourceful candidates for internship or employment |
Institues having limited tracking or control of how Students are using their educational license, or visibility on any skill gaps during Students’ internship |
Increases likelihood of skilled and certified Students, who are equipped with SOLIDWORKS license, being matched with relevant Companies where they can contribute effectively and gain experience aligned with their field of study |
Industry Partners
Challenges | How SOLIDWORKS SkillForce Program Helps |
|---|---|
Limited access to skilled and certified Student Interns, and few channels to identify and connect with them | Companies looking to source and hire participating Students can have Technology Partners gather their interest and connect them with participating Institutions |
Insufficient commercial SOLIDWORKS license; Potential risk of SOLIDWORKS license non-compliance when Student Interns use educational licenses in a commercial setting | Participating Students come equipped with commercial SOLIDWORKS licenses, enabling hosting Companies to fully leverage their Interns’ certified skills and resources |
Check Your Eligibility for SOLIDWORKS SkillForce
The SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program comes with promising solutions for all stakeholders involved. To participate, you must meet the following acceptance criteria:
Institutes of Higher Learning
- Must be a SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training Center (SATC), certified to meet standardized benchmarks and deliver industry-recognized training programs
- Officially registered with the appropriate regulatory authorities (e.g., MOE or ACRA)
- Must have appropriate EDU SOLIDWORKS licenses to teach.
- Having adequate facilities and training equipment (e.g., computers, internet access) for effective training delivery
- Trainers must hold relevant accreditation, such as CSWA and CSWP
- Maintain on-time annual license renewals and ensure usage compliance
Students
- Must be a student aged 18 years or above
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or higher-level program at a recognized college, technical institute or university
- Must first secure a 3 or 6-month internship / co-op program offer from an employer (internship credentials verification with employer required during the program application)
- Must hold a SOLIDWORKS CAD Design Associate (CSWA) certification; students who have not yet earned it are welcome to apply first and will receive a single-use voucher for CSWA exam, which must be passed to obtain the certification and qualify for the program
Industry Partners / Hosting Companies
- Hosting companies must verify the applicant’s internship arrangement with the Technology Partners
- No formal eligibility criteria are required for Industry Partners to be involved as Hosting Companies
- However, they play a key role as stakeholders by providing internship opportunities for eligible students. The program in turn benefits these companies by giving their interns access to commercial SOLIDWORKS license
- If your company is looking to hire interns under the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program, please register your interest here
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a student, Institute of Higher Learning, or hiring company apply to participate in the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program?
For students looking to apply, please refer to the official SOLIDWORKS SkillForce Program for Student Interns webpage.
For students, Institute of Higher Learning, or hiring company looking to register their interest, please fill up the registration form below.
If a student does not come from a participating Institutes of Higher Learning / SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training Center (SATC), can they still apply for the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program?
To uphold program standards, only students from formally onboarded institutions are eligible for SkillForce.
However, students from non-participating institutes are still welcome to register their interest here. In such cases, Technology Partners will reach out to the institution’s academic management to explore and facilitate their official participation in the program.
How long will the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce application take for students?
The entire process, from submitting your application to receiving the software, should be completed within 2-3 weeks. However, the exact duration may vary depending on the responsiveness of the parties involved.
For Institutes of Higher Learning, what does it mean to be a SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training Center (SATC)?
Being a SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training Center (SATC) means the institution has been formally accredited by Dassault Systèmes to deliver training that meets globally recognized SOLIDWORKS standards. SATCs are equipped with qualified instructors, certified training materials, and properly licensed environments that ensure students are learning in line with industry expectations.
As SATC status is one of the core requirements for Institutes of Higher Learning to participate in the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce Program, this accreditation assures that students receive consistent, high-quality training. In turn, participating companies can confidently host interns who are truly industry-ready.
Register your interest here to learn how we can support you in obtaining the SATC status.
Ready to Be Onboard?
The SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program is the first industry collaboration of its kind, designed to deliver meaningful benefits to educational institutions, students, and companies alike. Register your interest here to start, collaborate with Technology Partners, and empower students with industry-ready tools and experience!
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