Siemens generously donates $440 million to Youngstown State University's STEM College. The grant is for state-of-the-art product lifecycle management (PLM) software and training. Interestingly enough, Siemens is one of the top PLM software providers. I wonder which PLM software they will be providing the students.
Oh well, this strategic marketing tactic is still a big win for advanced manufacturing education. And hey, if the PLM software is good enough for Elon Musk's team to use, it has to be good.
It's always exciting to hear education from the first industrial revolution is getting a face-lift for the next revolution. More companies should take an active role in preparing the next generation of engineers with modern education. Universities alone can't keep up with workforce requests from manufacturers. Through customer service and sales, companies build a greater understanding of what a manufacturer needs in an employee. In turn, companies can create training and products that will fill the ever-widening skills gap.
More information about the ginormous donation can be found here.
