Designers, Engineers and Architects Can Receive Software, Training, Certification and Other Company Resources to Help Extend Their Skills and Improve Employability

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Recognizing the impact of today's economic challenges, Autodesk (Nasdaq: ADSK) is launching the Autodesk Assistance Program. The Autodesk Assistance Program will provide Autodesk customers and partners with design software tools, education and resources that will help them to enhance, maintain and develop their 3D design technology skills and remain competitive in the marketplace. The program will offer free* student software term licenses, free online training and a path to certification to unemployed architects, designers and engineers in all industries.

"Everyone has been touched by the economic downturn," said Steve Blum, senior vice president, Autodesk Americas sales. "Autodesk has a tradition of supporting the needs of its customers and partners. The Autodesk Assistance Program is a fast-tracked way for our customers to improve their productivity and competitiveness during this challenging and volatile time by accessing the multiple resources we offer them to best position themselves for the future."

Autodesk Assistance Program tools and resources will be made available through an online portal, where users can access:

    --  Free* Software License: Any 13-month term student license of AutoCAD,
        Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Inventor Professional, and/or
        AutoCAD Civil 3D software.
    --  Free Online Training: On-demand training available 24 hours a day, 7
        days a week provided online through vBooks - powered by Retrieve
        Technologies, Inc. (internet access required)
    --  Reduced-Cost Classroom Training: Many Autodesk Authorized Training
        Center (ATC) partners are offering classroom training at their
        training facilities for free or for a significantly reduced fee.

    --  Certification: Certification preparation and exams are available at
        discounted rates through Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers.

In addition to the Autodesk Assistance Program, Autodesk has partnered with various industry organizations on local initiatives. For instance, the new Autodesk office in Waltham, Mass., is teaming with the local Boston Society of Architects to offer free volunteer-led immersion seminars on building information modeling (BIM) to unemployed design professionals in the Boston area. Autodesk resellers and Chief Information Officers from different Boston-area companies are all pitching in to help teach the seminars. Seminar attendees receive a free* Revit Architecture student term license, and can also receive American Institute of Architects (AIA) continuing education credit for the seminars.

Partners who participate in the Autodesk Assistance Program will be designated as official Autodesk Assistance Program members on the program's website. Offers for certification and classroom training will vary depending on each ATC. Locate an Autodesk ATC in your area for details.

The Autodesk Assistance Program is being launched in North America. The company hopes to roll the program out in other countries over the next few months. Listen to Steve Blum discuss the program in a video on the Autodesk YouTube channel.

Autodesk currently provides training and online resources to end users through Autodesk University Online (AU Online), Autodesk User Group International (AUGI), various online industry communities and the Autodesk YouTube Channel.

For more information about the Autodesk Assistance Program, please contact your local reseller, or contact Autodesk directly at assistance@autodesk.com or visit www.autodesk.com/assistanceprogram.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, ATC, AUGI, Autodesk Inventor, Inventor, Revit and Civil 3D are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. AUGI is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., licensed exclusively to the Autodesk User Group International. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

(C) 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact: Angela Costa Simoes, (415) 547-2388
Email: angela.simoes@autodesk.com
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SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

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