University collaborates with The MathWorks to expand MATLAB and Simulink use throughout engineering students and faculty

2 Jul 2009

The Virginia Tech College of Engineering's Joseph F. Ware, Jr., Advanced Engineering Laboratory houses numerous engineering design projects, from the award winning autonomous vehicles to the new EcoCAR. The MathWorks has now entered a three year agreement with the college to provide resources and support for the continued use and development of course components that use MathWorks tools.

The Virginia Tech College of Engineering has joined with The MathWorks in a three-year initiative to enable more competitive, cutting-edge, and collaborative education for engineering and science students.

As part of this three-year relationship, The MathWorks will provide resources and support for the continued use and development of course components that utilize MathWorks tools. The MathWorks will also sponsor Virginia Tech’s Joseph F. Ware, Jr. Advanced Engineering Laboratory (Ware Lab), with software for technical computing and Model-Based Design.

The Ware Lab houses content for approximately 13 engineering-based design competitions, such as EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, for undergraduate students. Access to MATLAB and Simulink in the Ware Lab will give students the opportunity to gain expertise using industry-standard software tools in preparation for entering the workforce.

“Our expanded relationship with The MathWorks provides an extraordinary asset for our engineering and science students,” said Glenda Scales, associate dean for international programs and information technology in the College of Engineering. “We continuously strive to create more competitive programs and curriculum, and we know our students expect to learn about and gain expertise in cutting-edge tools that prepare them for industry. By offering MathWorks software, we achieve both of these goals.”

“To stay competitive, universities are seeking new ways to meet increasing expectations from students that they receive the highest-level access to and training on their industry’s most relevant technology tools,” said Tom Gaudette, manager of education technical marketing at The MathWorks. “Virginia Tech’s recognition of its student body needs and expectations from the school curriculum established the framework upon which this relationship with the university is built.”

This three-year collaboration builds upon years of Virginia Tech students using MathWorks software in academic competitions, such as EcoCAR and Challenge X. MathWorks software has also previously been licensed for use on laptops by Virginia Tech students; all undergraduate engineering students receive an engineering software bundle that includes 17 MathWorks products.

The MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of technical computing, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a graphical environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of multidomain dynamic and embedded systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these product families to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, electronics, financial services, biotech-pharmaceutical, and other industries. MathWorks products are also fundamental teaching and research tools in the world’s universities and learning institutions.