According to a study commissioned by Ricoh Europe, nearly nine out of ten higher education professionals believe that skills developed using digital manufacturing and 3D printing technologies are vital for graduates entering the labour market. The electronics company surveyed 3,150 professionals around the world to learn more about the place of 3D technologies in students’ curricula and how they will influence their employability.

While the study by Joblift showed that additive manufacturing is a growing recruiting sector, the one commissioned by Ricoh Europe confirms the importance that higher education has in this recruitment process. It is indeed important that future entrants into the labour market are already trained to meet the sector’s requirements in terms of skills and know-how, making the incorporation of 3D printing in the education of utmost importance.

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Of the 3,150 participants in the study, 787 are leaders in education; 88% highlighted the importance of having digital production skills at the end of their studies and 65% said 3D printing was an increasingly important component of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). A reinforced finding in the sectors of medicine and automotive where the need for additive manufacturing is increasingly high.

” Digital manufacturing and 3D printing offer the opportunity to illustrate complex concepts on a variety of topics,” said David Mills, CEO of Ricoh Europe. As the way people and machines work together continues to evolve, the integration of technical capabilities into the learning process helps to ensure that the skills required of the future workforce become a reality. second nature for today’s students. “

The study goes on to explain that many schools and universities are trying to attract potential students by offering flexible learning options and customised courses, incorporating 3D printing. 66% of respondents said that one of the best ways to attract them was to invest in these 3D technologies. 48% would facilitate access to content and resources with customised course materials, while 43% would provide students with flexible, on-demand 3D printing from anywhere.

Source 3dnatives.com
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