By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
KÜTAHYA, Türkiye, 27 September 2026 More than 30 academics and university representatives from five countries have completed a five-day training programme in Türkiye aimed at advancing renewable energy education in Africa.
The training, held at Kütahya Dumlupınar University from 21 to 25 September, brought together universities from Somalia, Tanzania, Malawi, Türkiye and Italy, with a focus on strengthening faculty capacity, research and entrepreneurial opportunities related to clean energy.
The programme is part of the Renewable Energy Advancement for Inclusive Development in Sub-Saharan Africa (READ) Project, jointly funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme.
The READ Consortium brings together eight universities from five countries. From Somalia, the participating institutions are SIMAD University, Mogadishu University and Capital University, while Tanzania is represented by the University of Dar es Salaam and Saint Augustine University. The University of Malawi, Kütahya Dumlupınar University in Türkiye and the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy are also part of the partnership.
The initiative aims to support African universities in modernising renewable energy curricula, strengthening faculty expertise and creating opportunities for research and entrepreneurship linked to the green economy.
A needs assessment conducted as part of the project found that 43 percent of respondents identified a shortage of qualified lecturers and trainers in renewable energy as a major challenge.
The Rector of Kütahya Dumlupınar University, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Kızıltoprak, said the training focused on addressing this need.
During the partnership, the READ Consortium developed 18 teaching modules divided into two courses. The Renewable Energy Technologies and Systems course consists of 14 modules, while the Energy Entrepreneurship course contains four modules.
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Faculty members were trained in modern teaching methodologies, lesson planning, student assessment and the use of digital learning tools.
They were also introduced to the Bologna Process and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which are among the frameworks used to support the alignment and recognition of higher education across Europe.
The training also extended beyond the classroom. Participants visited a renewable energy facility in Kütahya, where they observed electricity generation from wind and solar power, hybrid energy systems and the integration of electricity into the national grid.
The training now moves the READ Project into a new phase focused on implementing the developed curricula at African universities. Six African universities are expected to implement the new courses, with the project targeting at least 300 students to benefit from the programmes, while 120 young people will receive training in energy entrepreneurship.
The project also supports collaborative research, academic publications and internships for students with institutions and companies working in the energy sector.
Project officials say the objective is not simply to deliver short-term training programmes, but to ensure that the institutional capacity and knowledge developed through the initiative remain in place after the project ends.
Mohamed Okash, READ Project Coordinator at SIMAD University, said the consortium's responsibility is to ensure that the newly developed courses become a permanent part of university education.