That real, hands-on experience of Automated Control Engineering (ACE) systems was inaccessible to most students, leaving graduates with a significant skill gap between theory and practice.

The career implications of this have become increasingly evident, with graduates across the globe entering the workforce underprepared for the practical demands of the industry.

In 2021, The Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) conducted a survey which reported that 49% of employers are having to provide extensive on-the-job training to new recruits in order to bridge the skills gap.

Dedicated to the world of ACE, Dr James E. Pickering (Founder) set out to design a learning model that could be accessed anytime, anywhere, by anyone. More importantly, he envisioned a model that would evolve continuously, shaped by the insights of both academic and industry leaders to ensure its lasting relevance and effectiveness. And so, ACE-LAB was born.