What place is there for 3D printing in education?

According to a study commissioned by Ricoh Europe, nearly nine out of ten higher education professionals believe that skills developed using digital manufacturing and 3D printing technologies are vital for graduates entering the labor market. The electronics company surveyed 3,150 professionals around the world to learn more about the place of 3D technologies in students’ curricula and how they will influence their employability.

While the study by Joblift showed that additive manufacturing is a growing recruiting sector, the one commissioned by Ricoh Europe confirms the importance that higher education has in this recruitment process. It is indeed important that future entrants into the labor market are already trained to meet the sector’s requirements in terms of skills and know-how, making the incorporation of 3D printing in education of upmost importance.

Students from Duke University discover 3D printing

Of the 3,150 participants in the study, 787 are leaders in education; 88% highlighted the importance of having digital production skills at the end of their studies and 65% said 3D printing was an increasingly important component of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). A reinforced finding in the sectors of medicine and automotive where the need for additive manufacturing is increasingly high.