Software company CAD Corporation in partnership with CAD Corporation Draught- ing Academy has opened the new academy to assist in filling the gap for skilled draughts-people, designers and computer-aided design (CAD) specialists.
South Africa produces 1 000 draughtspeople a year and, according to the South African Institute of Draughting (SAID), 5 000 draughtspeople should be trained every year.
The draughtsperson course at the academy is structured to prepare students in their careers by focusing on software training, including a variety of Autodesk software, says CAD Cor- poration Draughting Academy MD Robert Schmidt.
The course outline was developed with lead- ing industry experts to expose students to the maximum amount of theory, software and practical industry knowledge.
The course duration is 90 days for full-time students and ten months for part-time students. Requirements include Grade 12, with engineering graphics and design, or technical drawing as a subject, or any qualification equivalent to Grade 12, with drawing subjects, such as civil technology and/or woodwork.
A work-experience qualification might be accepted, depending on the outcome of an interview, and students with only Grade 12 or equivalent qualification, with no drawing subjects, will have to do a one-week course prior to the draughting course.
Certificates of completion are issued by Autodesk and the academy is in the process of getting accreditation from SAID.
“The academy also assists candidates with job placements through an online portal hosted by the CAD Corporation.