Direct Current Technology: Renewable Energy Education and Skill Development in South Africa Erasmus Project

Project Title

Direct Current Technology: Renewable Energy Education and Skill Development in South Africa

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

DCTREES aims to develop a new educational program on Direct Current (DC) technologies for South African (SA) universities, in order to supply the country with adequately trained professionals it needs to overcome its challenges in the field of electrical engineering. The SA government considers electricity as the main driver for economic development and job creation. However, SA has a serious shortage of engineers; developed countries have in the order of 10 times more engineers per unit population. Recent investments in the educational system show promising signs, but engineering curricula have not been addressed, esp. not with an eye on 21st century priorities for the profession. DC technologies are such a priority for SA. The SA industry and universities see DC technologies offering solutions to 3 key energy challenges their country faces: a transition to more sustainable energy, connection of rural areas to the grid and a more stable energy network. However, DC as a topic is not addressed at universities. A full educational program does not exist. It’s this void DCTREES addresses by developing such a DC program, containing a theory, lab practice and industry assignments part. The program will be implemented by the participating SA universities, covering all parts of, and representing over 50% of all electrical engineering students in, SA. A EU-SA Educational Community will sustain, spread and continuously update the program after the project. Industrial representatives are committed to the project to ensure products are aligned with their needs and to promote students’ employability.DC technologies are gaining more and more attention; as a catalyst for renewable (sustainable) energy and cheaper than the currently dominant Alternating Current it has caused an electrical revolution recently. The participating EU universities, are the DC frontrunners. For them, the unique SA energy challenges offer an opportunity to enrich their knowledge on DC technologies.

Project Website

https://www.dut.ac.za/dct-rees/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 1000000 Eur

Project Coordinator

STICHTING HOGER BEROEPSONDERWIJS HAAGLANDEN & Country: NL

Project Partners

• FACHHOCHSCHULE AACHEN
• KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
• TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE KOLN
• RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
• UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
• CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
• UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA