With global energy resources under pressure, CPUT is set to train engineers that have a broad and expansive awareness of energy related issues.
In 2016, CPUT will officially roll out the MTech: Engineering: Electrical (Coursework) with a focus on energy.
The two-year coursework based programme will focus on addressing the shortfall of engineering skills in the areas of energy efficiency, energy management, energy policy, and energy access.
Dr Marco Adonis, who is leading the project says for Africa, energy access and efficiency, is both a prerequisite for reaching the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty, as well as for reducing carbon emissions.
“To achieve these goals, the qualification must focus on the opportunity of using existing energy resources as efficiently as possible by developing new processes and technologies,” says Adonis.
“As such, the outcomes of this qualification will create a platform for innovation in the energy access and efficiency sector and therefore have a positive impact on socio-economic conditions in Africa.”
This programme will offer a mix of subjects and research options that explore the specific regional energy resources.
This will range from traditional to renewable resources with an emphasis on the technologies, processes and standards for efficient energy use and resource management.
“This includes the conventional energy production sectors such as oil, gas and coal, as well as renewable sectors such as solar, wind and biofuels,” says Adonis.
The rollout of the energy focused qualification is part of EU Edulink consortium Programme on Energy Efficiency in Southern Africa (PEESA) that includes African and German partners.
Collaborators include CPUT, Vaal University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Polytechnic of Namibia as well as German partners Wismar University, Jena University of Applied Sciences and FH Flensburg Public University of Applied Sciences.
For enquiries please contact Dr Marco Adonis at adonism@cput.ac.za
