INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Data Centres
Schneider Electric creates professional education platform to address the data centre skills gap
Schneider Electric , the leader in Digital Transformation of energy management and automation , has announced a series of updates to its vendor-agnostic and CPD-accredited digital education platform , the Schneider Electric University . Available in 14 different languages and accessible globally for free online , the dedicated professional development platform directly addresses the data centre sector skills gap , helping industry stakeholders to upskill and stay up-to-date with the latest technology , sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives affecting the sector .
To-date , the Schneider Electric ( SE ) University has delivered more than one million courses to over 650,000 data centre users , with + 180 countries represented by its global user-base . The new updates to the Schneider Electric University Data Centre
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS DATA CENTRE CAPACITY DEMANDS HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY , REACHING RECORD NEW HIGHS AS DIGITISATION AND CLOUD ADOPTION ACCELERATES .
Certified Associate ( DCCA ) qualification include fundamentals of power , cooling , racks and physical security and guidance on how to optimise data centre designs to drive resilience , energy efficiency and sustainability . Its newest courses include Optimising Cooling Layouts for the Data Centre ; Fundamental Cabling Strategies in the Data Centre ; Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Centre ; and Fundamentals of Cooling II – Humidity in the Data Centre .
Furthermore , its curriculum addresses key focal points for the industry such as Data Centre Site Selection and Planning , which offers guidance on how to select brown and greenfield sites for access to renewable energy ; Alternative Power Generation Technologies , which helps drive the implementation of renewable energy strategies , on-site power generation and use of technologies such as microgrids ; and Battery Technology for Data Centres , which evaluates the sustainability impact of different types of UPS batteries , the benefits of Lithium-Ion technology and offers an analysis of the associated lifecycle costs .
Addressing the industry skills gap
Research in the Uptime Institute Annual Data Centre Survey 2021 estimates staff requirements will grow globally to nearly 2.3 million in 2025 . Further , 32 % of respondents reported difficulty in retaining staff , with 47 % having difficulty finding qualified candidates for open jobs . Attracting and retaining talent within the industry , which is the heart of the digital economy , is now reaching a critical mass .
By encouraging individuals to upskill and continue their professional development
for free , the Schneider Electric University is directly addressing the data centre industry skills gap , helping businesses to attract , retrain both new and existing talent and providing access to specialised technical education , everywhere .
“ In the last few years data centre capacity demands have grown exponentially , reaching record new highs as digitisation and cloud adoption accelerates . The sector skills shortage , however , remains a significant challenge and has potential implications for other connected industries ,” said Rob McKernan , Senior Vice President , Secure Power Division , Schneider Electric Europe . “ By providing guidance on the latest technology and sustainability initiatives , we believe the Schneider Electric University offers an invaluable resource to help bridge the skills gap by empowering business ecosystems , reskilling the workforce and training the next generation of professionals to build the data centres of the future .” p
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