Engineering the Future Workforce

A Collaborative Approach To Engineering

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The future of tech-related disciplines lies in an interdisciplinary approach to teaching. Professor Stephan Simons believes that industrial, electric, and mechatronics engineers shall find their way into working together. 


Stephan is an electrical engineer; he has a major in Control Theory and a Ph.D. in Robotics. He worked in medical technology for more than 11 years, where he developed some of the respiratory care systems used today to fight COVID. He had a passage in a company initially owned by Siemens, Sirona Dental Medicine. In 2006, he decided to move to the automation technology business. After Siemens bought UGS, Stephan found a way of combining his interests - automation technology, software business, and medical technology. In his own words, "It's all mechatronics."


The new normality pushed everyone deeper into the digital world; that should sound ideal for electrical engineers and robotics students, but it is not. Students need both a combination of the digital and the real thing. 


Listen to what Professor Simons has to say about the present and future of engineering, robotics, and automation students and the importance of collaboration between companies and universities. 


Questions I Ask:

  • Can you start sharing a little bit about yourself and your background? (0:46)
  • Why did you decide to focus on embedding digital twins in education? (2:22)
  • What are the skills you're developing in future engineers? (5:07)
  • Do you see other schools trending in the same fashion as combining the digital with the real world? (6:27)
  • How do you see the future of teaching now that everything is more digital? (10:06)
  • How do you keep current with the constant technology changes and improvements? (11:42)
  • Would you like to see industry partners like us engaging with the university more successfully? (27:04)


    • In This Episode, You Will Learn:

    • Why it is essential students work with digital twins (3:06)
    • How our students need to be educated (5:20)
    • Ecosystems that connect students communities are key (8:13)
    • The future of Universities is having a combination of digital and presential disciplines (11:30)
    • How tech-related courses inspire students? (14:14)
    • The best way to improve collaboration between companies and universities (22:30)


      • Connect with Stephan:

      • Linkedin
      • University of Applied Sciences

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        Engineering the Future WorkforceBy Siemens - The Academic Partner
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