SOLIDWORKS LETS U.K. COLLEGE SLASH STUDENT RAMP-UP ON 3D CAD.

U.K.-based Warwickshire College is equipping its engineering students with the three-dimensional computer-aided design (3D CAD) skills they'll need in their professional careers by incorporating SolidWorks(R) software in its curriculum, SolidWorks has announced. SolidWorks' intuitive, Windows-based environment lets Warwickshire College drastically slash student ramp-up on 3D CAD technology, so they can begin designing 3D solid models much faster than with other technologies.

Located in the heart of England, Warwickshire College boasts an award-winning engineering program that has students employed and apprenticed with such globally renowned manufacturers as Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Jaguar, and AGCO (Massey-Ferguson). It is using 20 licenses of SolidWorks to teach its engineering students 3D CAD much earlier in their educational careers due to the software's ease-of-use.

"SolidWorks is one of the easiest 3D CAD software packages to learn," said Nicola Belfield, engineering lecturer at Warwickshire. "With our previous CAD software, our students needed a minimum of 60 hours of 2D CAD classroom training just to prepare for 3D. They can begin learning 3D CAD immediately with SolidWorks. That helps our students begin honing the skills they will draw on in their professional lives. SolidWorks helps our students design better solid models faster than with other CAD technologies."

Currently, approximately 100 students are learning SolidWorks, and the college expects that number to increase dramatically in the near future.

"Warwickshire has made a name for itself by establishing apprenticeship programs with some of the U.K.'s most famous corporate names," said Simon Booker, SolidWorks' sales and marketing director for the U.K. and Ireland. "The fact that its professors are able to eliminate 60 hours of 2D classroom training to begin teaching 3D solid modeling means they are giving students more of the hands-on training they'll need to build successful careers."

About Warwickshire College

Warwickshire College, based on two sites at Royal Leamington Spa & Moreton Morrell, was formed in 1996 as a result of a merger between Mid-Warwickshire College and the Warwickshire College for Agriculture, Horticulture and Equine Studies. The vision statement of the merged college is "to be the best provider for lifelong learning." The college provides over 1700 courses at levels from Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (SLDD) to degree and post-graduate courses. In excess of 17,000 students enroll, of whom 4,000 are full time. For more information and a prospectus, call Warwickshire College at +44 1926 318000. For the latest news and up-to-date information visit the college's web site (www.warkscol.ac.uk).

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, Concord, Mass., a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets mechanical design software solutions. Founded in 1993, SolidWorks' mission is to unleash the power of 3D for everyone in product development, from concept to market. In over five years of shipping product, SolidWorks has shipped more than 160,000 total seats of software worldwide. SolidWorks has offices around the globe and distributes its products through a network of resellers selling in 70 countries.

For more information, or a live online demonstration, visit http://www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).