Renewable energy e-learning course for developing countries

The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, has created an e-learning course which intends to take renewable energy to developing countries across the world.

The course has been developed as part of a project that supports the UN’s Decade of Sustainable Energy for All. The project is a collaboration between Strathclyde, CIFAL Scotland and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and has financial support from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon International team.

Dr Tom Houghton, who is leading the project, explained that the internationally available online course “will be delivered through the UNITAR e-learning platform that already offers hundreds of courses to developing countries”. Strathclyde academics will share their expertise in the renewable energy field and “provide training on the latest developments in the sector”, Dr Houghton said.

University academics are working closely with CIFAL, a UNITAR-affiliated training centre, to deliver the e-learning course. Aimed at decision-makers in governments and NGOs, the course “will be moderated by a Strathclyde academic and the university will provide all content, regularly communicating with delegates to ensure support is available throughout”, Dr Houghton said. It is priced to be affordable for the target audience and delegates will receive a United Nations Diploma on satisfactory completion of the course.

May East, UNITAR Fellow and CIFAL CEO, said the UN sees energy as “the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity and an environment that allows the world to thrive”.

East noted the concern that “approximately one third of the world’s population - over two billion people - have no access to modern energy services”. The course hopes to bridge this gap and “present the case on how renewable energies represent at the same time an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity”, she said.

The University of Strathclyde has a longstanding relationship with Gambia and Malawi, developing sustainable energy capacity in these countries. Dr Houghton said, “Solar energy projects in Malawi and the Gambia have already proved to be a huge success and this project will build on Strathclyde’s commitment to providing useful learning in a critical field.”