Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia
Cooperation Section
China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy
Background
The entering into force of the Renewable Energy Law, in January of 2006, has given an important boost to the development of China’s renewable energy industry. By 2007, China’s investment in renewable energy has reached €8 billion. Given the political climate in favour of the support of this industry, a stronger growth is expected in the next years, which will create many job opportunities. For instance, some projections estimate that this industry will produce six million jobs and €22 billion annual income up to 2020. This will, in turn, generate a strong demand for qualified people at all levels (engineers, technicians, installers, managers, policy makers, researchers) in the field of clean and renewable energy sources.
Project Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to create a China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy (ICARE), to become the top-quality education institute on energy efficiency and renewable energy in China.
The specific objectives of the project are:
Ø Producing qualified candidates to fill the gap between the growing industry demand for specialised clean and/or renewable energy experts, and the skills currently available on the Chinese job market.
Ø Promoting education in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy at all levels.
Ø Fostering scientific cooperation between EU and Chinese top researchers, through the research platform.
Ø Providing an increasing access to specialised clean and renewable energy education and professional training activities for women, members of minority groups and persons with limited economic means.
Estimated Project Results
Ø Increased cooperation between European and China universities in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Ø From 350 to 400 students during the 5-year grant contract and agreed extension.
Ø Becoming a centre of excellence on energy efficiency and renewable energy education in China.
Ø At least 400 individual professionals[1] in the field during the 5-year grant contract and agreed extension.
Ø Creation of a research support platform
Main Programme Activities
Master Programme
The ICARE Master programme is a two-year post-graduate course, mainly dedicated to Chinese students, who have already obtained a degree in engineering or another relevant scientific discipline (e.g. physics, mathematics, science, management) with courses taught by European and Chinese professors, renowned experts in their field. The topics to be covered by the Master Programme include: solar energy (solar thermal- low and high temperature, photovoltaic); wind energy; biomass energy; geothermal energy; energy efficiency in the residential and industrial sectors; hydrogen production, distribution and storage; energy (both electricity and thermal energy) storage; connection to the grid; energy economics and management.
Vocational Training Centre for existing energy professionals
The objective of this action is to provide short-term, top-quality, cutting-edge, and practical sessions as well as targeted short term professional career development training programmes. The specific content of the training courses is going to be developed according to the needs of the Chinese market for production, installation, maintenance, and scrapping, and is going to be tailored to the audience’s existing capabilities and skills.
Specific attention will be paid to training needs assessment for existing energy professionals.
Establishment of a research support platform
The aim of this action is to establish a platform for scientific cooperation in the clean and renewable energy areas. During the implementation of the Grant contract, the platform will support the Master programme and the vocational training activities, by providing the students and other target audiences access to a large scientific community of experts in the clean and renewable energy area.
Communication and visibility activities
A series of communication and visibility activities will be implemented with a view to making ICARE the reference model for high quality education, training and research in the field of clean and renewable energy in China.
Alumni/Membership activities
In order to promote the ICARE concept and make sure that ICARE is generally recognised as a centre of excellence for high education, training and research in the field of clean and renewable energy, an Alumni network will also be set up with the objective of promoting continuous contacts amongst former students of the ICARE Master programme. Moreover, through the research support platform, ICARE will also offer consultancy services, such as research and professional advice, to energy professionals, who will pay annual membership fees in order to have access to these services.
Institutional Development Activities
In order to ensure the financial sustainability of ICARE, both during and after the grant contract period, different outreach activities will be pursued to:
Ø Attract private investors, such as Chinese and European companies based in China, in order to support the work of ICARE, through the payment of scholarships for students, and membership fees to have access to some consultancy activities
Ø Attract support from the Chinese central and local governments through funds to pay for the students’ scholarships, as well as ICARE activities
Ø Create and promote the ICARE brand as the centre of excellence for higher education, training and research in the clean and renewable energy sector (see promotional activities as listed in the “Communication and visibility activities” section)
Updated time of fiche: May 2015
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