• University collaboration will offer students and staff access to Autodesk’s full suite of industry-grade software
• Aston University is the first to collaborate with Autodesk, Adobe and Design Factory Birmingham to create an integrated design and innovation network for students
• Partnership will enhance graduate employability and practical industry experience.

Aston University has signed an agreement to provide students and staff access to Autodesk’s world-leading ‘Design and Make’ software to help them bring their design ideas to life.

Autodesk’s software will form part of the new engineering and physical sciences curriculum framework at Aston University, which will be available to students starting September 2025. This custom curriculum will embed the industry-grade software into teaching and learning, preparing students for careers such as architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media and entertainment.

This initiative complements the University’s unique partnerships with Design Factory Birmingham (DFB) and Adobe Creative Campus, enabling students to learn about design innovation with industry in DFB, realise creative outputs with Adobe and then and transform those ideas into tangible realities using Autodesk.

Aston University is the first in the UK to establish this trio of partnerships to offer students a fully integrated design and innovation ecosystem. These three initiatives will help to ensure that the University’s graduates are among the best-prepared for the modern workplace, helping to close the ever-growing skills gap in the UK’s critical industries. According to Autodesk’s 2025 Design & Make report, 57% of business leaders cite limited access to skilled talent as a key barrier to business growth, underscoring the importance of forward-thinking approaches like Aston University’s in developing a generation of digitally fluent professionals.

Autodesk will support the creation of and launch of a student ambassador programme, whereby eight student ambassadors will act as liaisons and advocates for the software on campus. The ambassadors will help their peers to maximise the benefits of the software, which will be used in the curriculum of the entire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences serving approximately 5,000 students. For the first time, students studying other subjects such as business, health and life will be given full access to the technology.

Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said: “Our collaboration with Autodesk illustrates how Aston University provides an industry-embedded education by giving our students the experience of a 21st century work environment.
“The world is transforming at an unprecedented pace and initiatives such as this allow us to equip our students with critical professional and digital competencies.”

Mary Hope McQuiston, Vice President of Autodesk Education Experiences, comments: “Aston University shares our belief that today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, and they need access to the right tools and real-world experiences to thrive in their future jobs. This partnership will provide every Aston student, regardless of discipline, the hands-on experience with the same technology used by professionals around the world. Together, we’re helping shape a digitally fluent, globally connected workforce — and with Aston, we're ensuring that students graduate with the skills they need to hit the ground running in jobs that are evolving as quickly as technology itself.”

Head of the Department of Design, Technology and Innovation, Dr Timothy Whitehead, said: “Autodesk will give all students and staff the power to make just about anything. The design tools are used in wide range of sectors from architecture, interior design, mechanical engineering, manufacturing and civil engineering and for the first time a student from any discipline at Aston University can have access and training in these tools.

“We’ll be able to run 3D modelling and visualisation in teaching labs and will ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop robust digital fluency skills, ensuring our graduates are among the best prepared for the modern workplace. This illustrates how our 2030 strategy has established Aston University into an institution that is inclusive, entrepreneurial and transformational.”

This agreement with Aston University is an extension of Autodesk's commitment to provide its industry-grade software for free to students and educators around the world. Serving industries such as architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment, Autodesk supports more than 100 million students and educators at 160,000 schools with access to this technology today.

The Adobe Creative Campus program recognises universities worldwide that empower students in all disciplines to learn the creative, productivity, and AI skills employers need. Design Factory Birmingham at Aston University is a cutting-edge facility that fosters innovation and design, bringing together students, staff, industry partners, and entrepreneurs to collaborate and develop solutions for real-world challenges.