National Technical University of Ukraine

Preparing Students for New Challenges

As household appliances, cars, airplanes, and industrial equipment become increasingly powerful, efficient, and interconnected, engineering students must enter the job market with skills in applied mechanics and materials engineering. This has been the goal of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (NTUU “KPI named after Igor Sikorsky”) since its founding in 1898. The Department of Dynamics and Strength of Materials at NTUU states, “We have 19 faculties, 9 educational and research institutes with several research and scientific centers, training bachelors, specialists, masters, and doctors of science. What sets us apart from other universities is the level of high teaching standards that we have maintained over the years, which has allowed us to be among the top 4%1 of technical universities in the world. Our institute collaborates with many well-known engineering companies and aircraft manufacturers, such as ProgressTech, Boeing, Antonov, Hydrosila, HAAS, FESTO. They tell us what they need, and we adapt our technologies and teaching methods to accommodate them. As a result, our students easily find jobs here and abroad as soon as they enter the job market,” he said.

In recent decades, NTUU “KPI named after Igor Sikorsky” has added courses on CAD/CAM/CAE/CALS solutions for the design, manufacturing, modeling, and engineering analysis of technical systems and structural elements to its curriculum. “Modern needs require modern tools,” said Andrey. “Many major global aircraft manufacturers have been using Dassault Systèmes applications for many years. Without basic knowledge, for example, in 3D modeling with CATIA, engineering analysis with SIMULIA, and digital manufacturing with DELMIA, as well as practical experience working with these applications, students wishing to work in these companies simply will not be hired.”

Educational Program in Technology

The university has been teaching CATIA in its Institute of Mechanics and Machine Engineering and in the Faculty of Instrument Engineering since 1998. “Today we use the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform and cover topics such as knowledge-based engineering and the importance of corporate best practices and methodologies as a way to reduce development time and preserve company know-how,” said Andrey.

“Thanks to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, students store data in a centralized database that other students from different classes can use in school projects and practical classes. We combine theoretical training and practical design exercises that students must successfully complete to demonstrate their understanding of concepts,” he said. “Then they complete a larger and more ambitious project at the end of their studies. We also incorporate 3D design with CATIA into our applied mechanics curriculum, which specializes in dynamics and material strength. The cases we study in class represent situations that students will encounter when entering the job market.” A local business partner, NGO “Solid,” has implemented Dassault Systèmes solutions at NTUU “KPI named after Igor Sikorsky.” “They provided training and support to the faculty so they could get up to speed and continue to support us if we have any questions,” said Andrey. “We are very satisfied with their services.”

Digitalization of the Product Lifecycle

Digitalization of the Product Lifecycle Before graduating from NTUU “KPI named after Igor Sikorsky,” engineering students are checked to see if they possess 3D modeling skills and understand the concept of product lifecycle management. “Whether it’s an airplane, industrial equipment, or a car, no company can deny the importance of managing the entire product lifecycle from initial requirements to disassembly and disposal at the end of its life,” said Andrey. “Digital modeling enhances product performance and employee productivity, as they can quickly create various design options and model the product in its environment before creating the first physical prototype or setting up the assembly line. Thus, digitalization helps companies save time and money while improving the quality of their products,” Andrey said.

Using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, students learn about the importance of collaboration. “Product development is a collective effort of many specializations,” Andrey said, “so students need to familiarize themselves with collaborative design methods in school. With ENOVIA and CATIA, they gain access to 3D models, exchange ideas, and make changes in real-time,” he said. “They learn to use the dashboards available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to share information through social networks with their colleagues to exchange ideas and design methods. This is a great way to enhance their creative potential.” Workflows and processes are capitalized in ENOVIA, which is a fundamental prerequisite for effective project management. “Project stakeholders are automatically informed about what tasks await them, so schedules are adhered to, and project managers have full traceability, allowing them to track who did what and what still needs to be done,” Andrey said. “Moreover, best practices and intellectual property can be capitalized for use in future projects.”

Engineering faculties of the school also include production modeling in their courses. “Forecasting errors before they occur in the production stage is crucial for reducing costs and meeting delivery deadlines,” said Andrey. “With DELMIA, students learn to assemble and model the production process to ensure that products are processed correctly, there are no disruptions, and that assembly lines are properly set up and operating at full capacity. These are all challenges faced by modern companies, and students who master these tools gain a competitive advantage when seeking employment.”

In 2016, a training and research center was opened at NTUU “KPI named after Igor Sikorsky,” created in collaboration with Boeing and “Progresstech-Ukraine.” “The goal of the center is to enhance the qualifications of engineering graduates to prepare them for work in aerospace companies such as ‘Progresstech’ and ‘Boeing,’” said Andrey. “Recently, we added two classes to teach design and analysis methods for aircraft design. The center also conducts undergraduate courses in applied mechanics, mechanics of structures and materials, theory of elasticity, theory of vibrations, and stability.”

An example of the university’s collaboration with its partners in the aerospace industry is the organization of a workshop, during which students and faculty have the opportunity to participate in the development of the entire aircraft from concept and preliminary design to the completion of the digital model. “For the development of this model, we use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its applications for design and modeling,” said Andrey. “The class is designed to provide students with practical experience that will help them face similar situations in their work.”

“For more than 100 years of its existence, we have strived to provide our students with top-notch training that prepares them for the responsibilities they will face in their future careers,” said Andrey. “Companies must meet their customers’ demand for quality. It all starts with qualified employees and the right technology, so Dassault Systèmes applications are an important component of our students’ learning process,” he said.