AUPET from Kazakhstan - Green Skills Award 2024 Finalist
One of Kazakhstan’s leading universities is pioneering a new green approach to renewable energy production and savings through a range of innovative training programmes.
Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications (AUPET) is training industry representatives, teachers, students and technicians on renewable energy and green technologies for their integration into the electric grid.
The university, which teaches students from college level all the way to doctorate, has established good relations with a wide network of key stakeholders in energy provision and green awareness, including the Ministries of Energy, Digital Development, Aerospace, and Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, as well as power industry organisations, power companies and international agents, such as USAID, and the UN Development Program.
AUPET also works with government on developing new laws and regulations for the power industry, and provides professional expertise and evaluation on projects.
Its work in training students and professionals in renewable energy applications and audits is coordinated with the Institute of Energy and Green Technologies, which is based at the university.
Director, Ainur Begimbetova, says the institute works closely with AUPET to implement renewable energy education programmes throughout Central Asia.
There is an urgent need to increase energy saving and find alternative sources of power,” Ainur says.
“We’re working with Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications to train people for the green transition.”
AUPET’s work makes it one of the ten finalists in the European Training Foundation’s Green Skills Awards 2024.
The award is a global initiative, first introduced in 2021. It provides ideas and inspiration from all over the world about innovation happening thanks to individuals and institutions. The initiative has become a source of good practices that can inspire people everywhere to make real change happen in creating circular and carbon-neutral economies and societies.
The fresh approach by the university is all the more remarkable because Kazakhstan has vast reserves of fossil fuels, including oil and gas, where it ranks 12th in the world for untapped sources.
“Although Kazakhstan has oil and gas, other parts of Central Asia face energy shortages and pollution from burning fossil fuels,” Ainur adds.
AUPET has been involved in several key projects, including USAID’s “Kazakhstan program on climate change mitigation” and conducting research and training on renewable energy sources with the Tajik Energy Institute, where it has introduced “students to more efficient and sustainable processes, systems and behaviour.”
“This initiative,” Ainur says, “ensures a transition to cleaner energy sources, giving a general scale to the development of renewable energy sources in the region.”
A less visible aspect of the longer-term impact AUPET’s activities are likely to have can be found in its research into curriculum development. By introducing new teaching technologies and curriculum content – and networking with other universities – the university is developing Central Asia-wide online platforms to better disseminate green education.
With more than 200 master students and over 50 industry representatives trained so far, AUPET has built a broad network to stakeholders introduce more efficient and sustainable processes, systems and behaviour in Central Asia,” Ainur notes.
Its curriculum, course materials, lecture notes, laboratory manuals and guidelines to practical exercises are becoming essential foundations for a new green approach to energy and renewables.
An advanced training programme in renewable energy sources for women in the energy sector in Central Asia has also been developed, taking into account local challenges and barriers.
“AUTEP has become the focal point for all Central Asian universities for developing educational programs to contribute to the transition to sustainable energy,” Ainur concludes.