Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is conducting a four day University Network on PhD programs in Energy Technology (UNET) project workshop-5 at the AAiT campus from the 4^th to 7^th of September 2023.

 The School is running the Workshop with the support of the EU under Erasmus+ programme and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

Professor Ole Jorgen Nydal, from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), in an interview said that energy technology system is open to innovation and it generates, transforms, stores, and distributes diverse forms of energy for usage in a safe and financially responsible manner to enhance the quality of life for people all over the world.

Ole stated that the UNET project developing PhD courses will support the PhD research. The project is targeted to set courses which are missing PhD programmes among the partner universities.

He said, “I think energy technology is essential for all nations on the planet. Societies as a whole rely on energy and power technologies in many different fields. It is significant because the most fundamental energy services it provides, like heat for cooking and boiling water, as well as energy for mining, manufacturing, materials processing, construction, transportation, and communication, all serve fundamental human needs.”

Abdulkadir Aman Hassen (PhD), Head at Thermal Systems and Energy Conversion Chair in the School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and UNET EU Coordinator, said that it is a project that started with the cooperation of African and European universities.

According to Dr. Abdulkadir, ten different universities are participating with the aim to strengthen course-based renewable energy technology PhD degree program in many countries by improving the renewable energy technology PhD degree education, which was previously relied on research only.

Dr. Abdulkadir noted that another objective of the workshop is to organize laboratories with the best and modern technologies and create the most convenient practical research conditions for PhD students and researchers in renewable energy technology.

The Head at Thermal Systems and Energy Conversion Chair told the OERPC reporter that course-based renewable energy technology PhD program helps learners and researchers develop practical skills and knowledge required to critically evaluate alternative energy sources, and provide applied solutions to the energy demand.

According to UNET EU Coordinator, those who earn a PhD in Energy Technology can have energy-related careers in the advisory roles such as in the task of helping to analyse and formulate energy policy.

“Other professional options include regulatory analyst, engineer, energy supply manager or director, environmental analyst, and environmental planner. Jobs could involve developing breakthroughs in alternative energy or increasing energy efficiency in current grids,” he added.

Karidewa Nyeinga, from Makerere University Uganda, said that the doctoral program is designed to teach engineers and scientists all about renewable energy technology. It’ll give them the skills and information they need to tackle the energy industry’s practical problems and help the community with energy production, distribution and use.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), University of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Addis Ababa University and Mekelle University (Ethiopia), Universida de Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique) and University of Malawi, University of Makerere of Uganda, BUSITEMA University, UNIVERSIDADE SAVE University of Mozambique and others attended the workshop.

Web reporter: Theodros Shewangizaw

Photo: Fikremariam Beyene

Editor: Abraham Girmay