Preparing Ireland's Next Generation of Additive Manufacturing Talent with Siemens NX
Kaizen supports South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford in helping to prepare Ireland's representative for the prestigious WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition.
Customer Background
South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford is helping to prepare Ireland's representative for the prestigious WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition. As one of the world's largest international skills competitions, WorldSkills showcases the highest standards of technical excellence across a wide range of industries.
Leading this effort is Paul Quinn, Lecturer and Programme Leader at SETU, who has been appointed as Ireland's Skills Expert for Skill 57 – Additive Manufacturing. His role is to train and mentor Ireland's competitor, ensuring they have access to industry-leading technology and the practical experience needed to compete on the global stage.
The Challenge
To effectively prepare for the competition, SETU required access to professional engineering software that aligned with the approved WorldSkills technology stack.
As Siemens NX is recognised as an approved software platform for Skill 57 – Additive Manufacturing, the university needed access to NX with Additive Manufacturing capabilities for both the Skills Expert and the Irish competitor.
However, due to ongoing IT restrictions following a cyberattack on the university, SETU also required guidance on the most appropriate licensing approach to ensure the software could be deployed successfully within their existing infrastructure.
The Solution
Kaizen PLM worked closely with SETU to provide the resources needed for successful WorldSkills preparation.
Our team supplied academic Siemens NX licences with Additive Manufacturing functionality, enabling both the Skills Expert and Ireland's competitor to begin training using the same professional software recognised by the competition.
In addition, Kaizen PLM advised on the most suitable licensing strategy to accommodate the university's current IT constraints, helping SETU implement a practical solution despite the challenges presented by its infrastructure.
By combining software access with technical guidance, SETU was able to focus on developing the advanced design and manufacturing skills required for international competition.
“Kaizen PLM’s generous support in supplying Siemens Designcenter NX has made a significant difference to our WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 preparation. This is the first time that Team Ireland will have a competitor, Harry Green, in the Additive Manufacturing competition. In our preparations we have been using NX to design parts, reverse engineer, complete scan to cad task as well as prepare parts for SLM printing. Our training has mimicked the layout and format of the Worlds and having access to N has made the difference in ensuring Harry is as best prepared as possible! Their commitment to skills development is helping the next generation of talent gain valuable real-world experience using professional engineering tools.“
Paul Quinn, WorldSkills Ireland Additive Manufacturing Expert
Looking Beyond WorldSkills
The collaboration extends beyond preparing for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
SETU is currently developing a new Master's programme in Additive Manufacturing and is exploring the integration of Siemens NX into its Design for Additive Manufacturing module.
This will help provide students with experience using the same industry-standard digital engineering tools employed by manufacturers around the world.
The partnership also creates opportunities for continued collaboration between SETU and Kaizen PLM, supporting innovation in engineering education while helping to develop the next generation of additive manufacturing professionals in Ireland.
SETU has also expressed its willingness to recognise Kaizen PLM as a supporter of Ireland's WorldSkills preparation, highlighting the value of collaboration between academia and industry in developing future engineering talent.
Results at a Glance
Provided academic Siemens NX licences with Additive Manufacturing capabilities.
Enabled training for Ireland's WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competitor and Skills Expert.
Recommended a licensing strategy that addressed the university's IT infrastructure constraints.
Supported preparation using an approved software platform for WorldSkills Skill 57 – Additive Manufacturing.
Established opportunities for future collaboration around SETU's new Master's programme in Additive Manufacturing.
Strengthened links between higher education and industry to support advanced manufacturing skills in Ireland.
Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers?
Whether you're an educational institution introducing Siemens software into your curriculum or an organisation looking to develop future engineering talent, Kaizen PLM can help you choose the right software, licensing and implementation strategy.
Contact our education specialists to discuss Siemens NX for teaching, research and advanced manufacturing here.