INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Training courses to be created in Democratic Republic of Congo
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In Haut-Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ), the lack of qualified electricians is undermining the province ’ s economic development . Schneider Electric , a leader in Digital Transformation of energy management and automation , and the Society of Jesus in the DRC , will therefore help 500 local young people find work between 2018 and 2020 by creating two certified training courses for electricians .
A partnership to help underprivileged young people find work
Committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) set by the United Nations , Schneider Electric is particularly invested in SDG 7 , or ensuring access to sustainable energy for all , as a prerequisite for child education , quality of life and economic development . In 2009 , the company launched its Access to Energy programme with the objective of supporting vocational electrical training , in partnership with local organisations . Since then , the programme has helped more than 148,000 people in more than 45 countries .
In DRC , Didier Chika , Access to Energy Business Development Manager , contacted Father Max Senker , Director of Mwapusukeni Technical College in Lubumbashi . The college , which is managed by the Society of Jesus , has offered vocational training courses including steel construction and car mechanics for young people added between 18 and 25 since 2017 .
After studying market needs , the partners defined two training programmes in the energy sector – Building Electricity and Solar Energy .
“ A partnership agreement signed at the end of 2017 between the Jesuits , Schneider Electric DRC and the Schneider Electric Foundation describes the courses , the duration of the training , the number of beneficiaries and the target audience ,” said Chika . “ It also defines the commitments of each party . Given the region ’ s needs for qualified electricians , trainees are guaranteed job prospects .”
The aim is to enable 500 young people , including 80 % from underprivileged families , to train as electricians from September 2018 to 2020 .
Two certified programmes for trainee electricians
The Building Electricity programme is designed to last a year ( six months of classes and six months of experience in a company ). This training will lead to a locally recognised vocational certificate . Meanwhile , the Solar Energy programme lasts four months and will take 80 students every year , including those that have completed the Building Electricity programme .
The quality of the programmes is partly due to the equipment provided by Schneider Electric , through the support of the Schneider Electric Foundation . This includes learning stations ( booths in which students can make connections ), solar panels , batteries and charge regulators . Schneider Electric is also contributing to instructor training . The instructors ’ training modules are dispensed by a Schneider Electric Teacher , an employee that applied for the position on a volunteer basis and was selected for his or her technical skills in the relevant equipment .
The programme is designed to be replicated and adapted to the constraints of each region through ongoing development and improvement . For example , the solar module was developed by a professor from the Schneider Electric Paul-Louis Merlin School in Grenoble during a trip to Senegal with local technicians . Similarly , feedback from Tanzania highlighted a need for industrial maintenance , leading to the design and introduction of another module . All the training courses are presented in a catalogue organised by level of qualification , such as a vocational training certificate and a master ’ s certificate . •
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