Sponsors

Dassault Systemes

Dassault Systèmes SE (abbreviated as 3DS) is a Fortune 50 large software company that develops software for 3D product design, simulation, manufacturing, and more. Headquartered in France, 3Ds is a pioneer in computer-aided design with CATIA. Dassault Systèmes is committed to improving the world for people because they believe “Experience is Human”. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they have supported multiple initiatives to help people — their employees, customers, business partners, and their families and communities. Before 2000, the company focused on 3D design software with CATIA and SolidWorks. Over the next decade, new brands were launched: ENOVIA for product data management and collaboration; DELMIA for manufacturing and global operations; EXALEAD (for information intelligence and search); 3DEXCITE (for marketing); GEOVIA (for modeling the planet); BIOVIA (for modeling the biosphere); and MEDIDATA (for managing clinical trials)*. In 2012, 3DS launched a digital product innovation platform called the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, with the strategy of human industry experience: human (people-focused, multi-disciplinary collaboration); industry (specialized industry best practices); experience (what consumers value in today's ‘experience economy’). 3DS has over 20,000 employees across 140 countries, who beyond their professional activities, participate in social initiatives, including community service days and sporting charities such as the Pan Mass Challenge. Since 2013, the company has a Women's Initiative Network to encourage, inspire and support women in their career development by achieving personal and professional growth, as well as support women globally such as by sponsoring technical education for women in developing countries such as Rwanda.

ABET

ABET, incorporated as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., is the recognized U.S. accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

The accreditation of these programs occurs mainly in the United States but also internationally. As of October 2017, 4,005 programs are accredited, distributed over 793 universities and colleges in 32 countries. ABET was established in 1932 as the Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD) by seven engineering societies. ECPD changed its name to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. in 1980 and began doing business as ABET in 2005. In 1985, ABET helped establish the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB), which is now one of ABET's largest member societies with over 300 programs, in response to a dramatic rise in interest in computer science education.

Upon voluntary request, Accreditation is given to individual programs within an institution rather than to the institution as a whole and the eligibility of the institution must be established, which can be satisfied if the institution is accredited by a regional accreditation agency. Each program is then assigned to one of four accreditation commissions within ABET.