Weld Australia announced its receipt of the Andre Leroy Prize at the 2024 International Institute of Welding (IIW) Awards, which took place during the IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference on Welding and Joining in Rhodes, Greece.

The Andre Leroy Prize is awarded for significant contributions to scientific and technical training or teaching in welding processes and allied processes, quality control of welded joints, or the behaviour of materials and welded construction.

Weld Australia was honoured with the award for its work on a suite of learning resources designed for the 12 welding and fabrication units of competency in the Manufacturing and Engineering (MEM) Training Package.

Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, expressed his pride in the achievement: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the Andre Leroy Prize at the 2024 International Institute of Welding Awards. This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to advancing technical training in the welding and fabrication industry.”

He continued, “Our innovative learning resources are designed to meet the evolving needs of students, teachers, and training organisations.”

Weld Australia spearheaded a national consortium of TAFEs to develop this project. Over the last two years, this collaboration has produced some of the most engaging and up-to-date training materials available.

Crittenden emphasised the significance of this partnership: “The development of our MEM Resources was a collaborative effort with a national consortium of TAFEs. Over the past two years, this partnership has allowed us to create the most engaging and up-to-date training materials possible. The success of this project is a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved.”

The MEM Resources are designed with flexibility and accessibility in mind, featuring a user-friendly interface and diversified delivery methods.

The resources are entirely online and can be accessed via phone, mobile device, or computer, allowing students to learn at their own convenience.

Crittenden noted, “Our goal was to reimagine the learning process by providing a user-friendly interface and diversified delivery methods that cater to the varied needs of our students.”

He added, “The completely online and accessible nature of the MEM Resources ensures that learning can happen anytime, anywhere, and at a pace that suits each individual.”