“it is as if I have experience ,without having experience,” said one student
As Memorial University celebrates 50 years of Memorial Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science CAD Clubz surpasses 300 certifications, 100 of which were specifically AutoCAD.
Autodesk® certifications are industry-recognized credentials that can help designers, engineers, and makers succeed at any stage of their career. As more and more industries experience a skills gap as they hire new talent, Autodesk certifications provide a reliable validation of skills and knowledge.
Ms. Caroline Koenig, Laboratory Instructor, Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, started offering CAD Clubs each semester for students to achieve an industry-recognized professional certification. “When I began this journey, part of my motivation was to create a testing center for the province of Newfoundland & Labrador, otherwise students would have to travel to the mainland to achieve such certifications. Our students report that these industry-recognized certifications are a tremendous help when interviewing for their co-op work placements.”
As one student explained “it is as if I have experience without having experience”, which Caroline found revealing and informative. Caroline Koenig has an impressive record of contribution within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial. As a certified mechanical engineering technologist, Ms. Koenig honed her design skills as an industrial designer before going to Memorial University as the assistant to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Petro-Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering. As a laboratory instructor, she developed a blended learning environment with a “teach yourself” approach to promote lifelong learning. With a view to student safety, Ms. Koenig created learning videos for her machine shop-focused YouTube channel, introducing students to mill and lathe safety. She later produced safety videos for both the mechanical, electrical and computer departments. For her contributions to the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and its students, Ms. Koenig received Memorial University’s prestigious President’s Award for Exemplary Service in 2017.
Next up for Ms. Koenig and her team is to look at AutoDesk Fusion 360, which will demonstrate product development skills using 3D CAD, CAM and CAE tools to explore design ideas with an integrated concept-to-product toolset.
“Congratulations to Ms. Koenig, and the students that have proven and validated their skills with industry-recognized credentials”, said Vanessa Knox, President of CCI Learning. “CCI Learning is proud to work with innovative educators to embrace certifications across Canada and we thank Ms. Koenig for her efforts and this excellent achievement”.
“We applaud Ms. Koenig’s commitment to ensuring students gain the necessary skillsets Autodesk certifications provide to compete in today’s high skill, high wage STEM-focused industries. By adding Autodesk’s Fusion 360 as the next step in the certification pathway, her students will be able to build the skills necessary to transition from design to make. Congratulations to Ms. Koenig and her students on their success!”– Jana Hambruch, Program Manager, Certification and Credentials, Autodesk Education Experiences.
Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada is a multi-campus, multidisciplinary university dedicated to creativity, innovation, and excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, and public engagement. Memorial offers a wide range of certificate, diploma, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programs, complemented by extensive online courses and degrees. With a student population of more than 18,000 from over 100 countries, Memorial is one of the largest universities in Atlantic Canada. Founded in 1925 as a living memorial to the residents who lost their lives during active service in the First World War and subsequent conflicts, Memorial University serves to honor that great sacrifice through education, research, and public engagement.
Find Out More: To find out more about offering these or other industry certifications contact CCI Learning and speak with Jon Steeksma Ontario East or Dave Watson Manitoba West, to hear how your educational institution can offer certifications for your students. 
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