A recently formalised partnership will change the way aerospace engineering is being done in the Philippines. It will raise the skill sets of Filipino engineers and future-proof them for Industry 4.0.
As reported, FEATI University recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with an American software company that will allow the University to use the company’s simulation training courses.
Under the MOA, the company had appointed the University as its Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the country, officially making the University its first CoE in the Philippines.
The University’s CEO described the company’s tools as being heavily relied on by the aerospace industry for analysis and prediction of stress and strain, vibration and dynamics, acoustics, and thermal analysis.
Being a leading educator in aviation, aerospace and other engineering disciplines, the University believes in giving its students the best exposure to industry-leading tools and technologies to prepare them for their careers. This partnership is a step towards that direction.
Digital transformation
The software company’s Managing Director for Indo Pacific Region described the partnership as bridging the gap between academy and industry, which will pave the way for digital transformation.
For this partnership, the University will be training engineering students and professionals by using the company’s software to prepare them for future critical engineering skills.
The software will allow the students to input parts of their designs and then execute a simulation to see how it will react to different stresses, temperatures, or other possible factors that can be added in the simulation.
Beneficial to students
This is a very important tool for engineers as it increases their capability to go beyond the paper and pen type of design. Instead, they can go to realisation and simulation.
Additionally, the University is offering the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Simulation training to students from other universities, at a cost.
The partnership has made it possible for students from other universities and industry to also benefit from the training.
The University will be gaining 2 notable benefits from this. One, they will be able to use the software and connect it to the theory of space analysis, thermal analysis, and design.
Second, they will be able to do a visual simulation with their computers and see what will happen to their design.
Background on the University
The University had its roots in aeronautics when it was established as a way to train mechanics and engineers for the maintenance and operation of the country’s airline industry after World War II.
It is considered as the Philippines’ pioneer in aviation education and aeronautical engineering.
Centre of Excellence
One of the CoE’s functions is to enhance the skill sets of students and professionals through industry-oriented training and research project simulation.
Aside from the regular offerings of paid Proficiency Training Programs with Certification, they are expected to offer regular short-term paid training programs for industry professionals.
The programs’ content and duration will be tailored to the respective industry’s need.
All these functions are possible thanks to the available infrastructure facilities that will run the simulation and train the students and professionals with the software.
The University will conduct the formal courses for its students, as part of the curriculum. The students will be using the CoE facility for their research projects.
In order to become trainers, the University’s faculty will undergo the company’s training programs and be certified by them.
How simulation works
The tools and newer suite of solutions are designed to enable affordable and faster virtual prototyping.
Virtual prototyping allows engineers to simulate the realistic behaviour of the components or assembly under various conditions.
Additionally, the tools will help improve feasibility, reliability and implementation of new products to a large extent. They promote shorter time to the commercialisation of products.
A Filipino Astrophysicist described what they do in the aerospace engineering field.
According to him, the designs they do need to be validated with tests. However, physical tests are expensive and take time.
With simulation, the process can be shortened and be less costly. Plus, it will produce the same kind of reliable results.
With the new developments, particularly with the upcoming Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), having more people who are trained in aerospace engineering is something to look forward to.