REN@EARTH Project Outline
Capacity building on renewable energy for students, lecturers and the renewable energy industry with a focus on the humid tropics
In order to implement renewable energy technologies in Costa Rica and Central America, one of the most important instruments is the education of people who are able to handle technology and design as well as the compilation, building, operation and maintenance of systems.
The project REN@EARTH will implement capacity-building on renewable energy. The aim is to strengthen the basis for an increased use of renewable energy technologies in order to reduce carbon emissions and energy imports. By facilitating know-how transfer to students, lecturers, and the renewable energy industry, the foundation for a sustainable local value creation will be built.
What does REN@EARTH offer?
REN@EARTH offers a comprehensive educational approach, taking into account the needs of different target groups. The project includes the following:
- Overview course on renewable energy in the humid tropics at EARTH University in Costa Rica as part of the syllabus for EARTH students and implementation of a training centre for practical education (taught in English)
- Weekend seminar at EARTH University: an overview of renewable energy technologies, applications and use in the humid tropics (taught in English)
- Technology-specific further education seminars at EARTH University in Costa Rica (1 week, taught in Spanish and English)
- Technology-specific “Train-the-Trainer” seminars for future lecturers at RENAC in Berlin/Germany (2 weeks, taught in English)
Who can participate?
REN@EARTH seminars are directed at participants from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama. We invite members of different target groups to submit an application to participate in the:
- EARTH University course and use of training centre in Costa Rica: EARTH University students
- Weekend seminar: open to the interested public
- Technology-specific further education seminars: engineers and technicians from the renewable energy industry and the conventional energy sector, as well as government employees, NGO’s and other relevant stakeholders involved in the renewable energy market
- Technology-specific “Train-the-Trainer “seminars for future lecturers in Berlin/Germany: professors, teachers and renewable energy experts from companies, preferably with teaching experience
What are the costs for participation?
REN@EARTH is supported by the German Government and can therefore be offered as a partial scholarship programme. Participation in the seminars can be offered at minimal cost to the participant:
- Weekend seminar
- Scholarship for attending the seminar and seminar materials
- other costs must be covered by participants (e.g., travel, accommodation, board, personal expenditures)
- Technology-specific further education seminars
- scholarship for attending the seminar and seminar materials
- other costs must be covered by participants (e.g., travel, accommodation, board, personal expenditures)
- Technology-specific “Train-the-Trainer” seminars for future lecturers in Berlin/Germany
- scholarship for attending the seminar, seminar materials, air travel to Berlin, part of accomodation, lunch and coffee breaks on seminar days, travel health insurance for the duration of the seminar, support for travel visa
- other costs must be covered by participants (e.g. personel contribution of €12 for accomodation per night (total of €144), dinner and weekend meals, weekend activities, personal expenditures, visa fees)
What is the application procedure?
REN@EARTH project will offer seminars during the three years of the project (2011 – 2013). Up-coming seminars will be announced at www.earth.ac.cr and www.renac.de with specific details of the application process explained for each of the seminars.
Who is behind REN@EARTH?
REN@EARTH project was designed by EARTH University in Costa Rica, www.earth.ac.cr and the Renewables Academy (RENAC) in Berlin, www.renac.de. The project is financed with funds from the International Climate Protection Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), http://www.bmu-klimaschutzinitiative.de/en/news.