Oklahoma State University Receives $20 Million In-Kind Software Grant from Siemens PLM Software

Siemens PLM Software today announced an in-kind software grant with a commercial value of nearly $20 million to the Apparel Design and Production program within the Department of Design, Housing & Merchandising at Oklahoma State University (OSU) to enrich their product development and merchandising curriculum. The in-kind software grant, the largest in the department’s history, will provide training for students preparing to enter the workforce.

The grant was presented to OSU during The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) event at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. AAFA is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market.

The in-kind grant was made through the Siemens PLM Software Global Opportunities in Product Lifecycle Management, or GO PLM™, program and includes product development software, student/instructor training and specialized software certification programs.

Siemens PLM Software technology addresses the challenges faced by apparel and footwear manufacturers and retailers. Teamcenter® software, Siemens PLM Software’s industry-leading digital lifecycle management portfolio delivers a user-friendly solution that is ready to use “out-of-the-box” to help retailers and manufacturers increase speed-to-market and reduce costs by streamlining processes and workflow management; enhancing communication and collaboration; and increasing visibility on a global scale.

"Siemens PLM Software clearly realizes the important responsibility industry has in contributing to higher education,” said Dr. Cheryl Ann Farr, professor, Department of Design, Housing & Merchandising, OSU and representative to the AAFA Human Resource Leadership Council. “OSU is very pleased to receive the grant. By utilizing the same world-class product development tools that leading-edge companies use, we’re strengthening our curriculum and ensuring that our students gain the essential knowledge and practical experience necessary to prepare them to enter the workforce.

“OSU’s apparel design and production program alumni have rewarding careers with many of the leading companies in the industry. Thanks to the educational opportunities provided by Siemens PLM Software’s grant, prospects for future graduates will continue to be promising,” added Farr.

“Apparel and footwear manufacturers and retailers face the complex challenge of delivering the right styles to market at just the right time, and doing that many times per year,” said Dan Staresinic, senior director, consumer products, retail and life sciences, Siemens PLM Software. “It’s clear that today’s best students in top programs, like the program at OSU, benefit through opportunities to gain experience with technology that supports these objectives. This GO PLM grant will help students at OSU learn the tenets of good product development on the same PLM software technology that is used by industry leaders for on-trend, on-time execution.”

OSU Apparel Design and Production Program

Oklahoma State University’s Apparel Design and Production program curriculum has been approved by the AAFA Human Resource Leadership Council since 1997. For the 2008-2009 academic year there were 431 undergraduate and 36 graduate students in the department. An outgrowth of the department is the Institute for Protective Apparel Research and Technology (IPART). IPART provides employment opportunities for apparel design and production students to have real world product development experience while completing their degrees. IPART partners with government and industry to develop and evaluate sewn products.