KAIST leverages Siemens solution to support innovation in education
It has become increasingly apparent that strengthening the bonds between industry and academia is a must in order to deliver a workforce that is dynamic enough to conquer the ever-demanding challenges of Industry 4.0. Donghyuk Shin, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering at KAIST (formerly known as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), knows this better than most. When KAIST began teaching a module on computational fluid dynamics at the university, he realized almost immediately that his predecessors had prioritized theory over application.
“When I started teaching computational fluid dynamics, the lecture notes I inherited focused primarily on theory and the final project was about writing one’s own flow solver. I wondered how many students would actually continue to write flow solvers after this lecture.” – Donghyuk Shin, Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace, KAIST
That’s when Professor Shin began exploring a pathway that the world of higher education has only just begun to transition to: the integration of commercial software into classroom applications. Upon researching commercial software options, Pro. Shin found Siemens Simcenter STAR-CCM+ platform, a part of the Xcelerator portfolio, to be the superior option on the market, even when compared to free versions of similar platforms.
Upon receiving hands-on training from a certified Siemens engineer, Pro. Shin was able to effectively integrate STAR-CCM+ into his curriculum, and the results certainly speak from themselves. In fact, Shin states that many students even register for his course in the first place, “simply to gain experience on a commercial CFD software.” Students are certainly more eager than ever to enter the workforce with tangible skills, and the industry has certainly noticed. Afterall, Shin himself states, “It is critical that we teach students how to use engineering software solutions because these are the norm in the industry.”
It’s clear that Professor Shin’s students are actively applying the knowledge they glean from using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ in the classroom into their future endeavors. In fact, as a direct result of student use of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, the university gave one of his research students a $3500 grant to conduct further research. As Professor Shin adds, “I think learning to use the Siemens solution helps prepare students for work as an engineer. Recruiters want students who are strong in their major discipline and are equipped with the latest skills. “
The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic have certainly shown those in academia and higher education that integrating software and technical solutions into their classroom endeavors is a must.
To learn more about KAIST’s partnership with Siemens, check out this case study.
