Ten students from NAIT’s Alternative Energy Technology program recently returned from Peru after installing an off-grid solar power system in a primary school in a remote village of 500 people high in the Andes.
Partnering with Light Up The World, the students applied the technical skills they acquired through their polytechnic education to install an off-grid solar photovoltaic system for young learners and teachers in the village of Ccollpapata, Peru. Two NAIT instructors accompanied the students to support the project.
Before the installation of the off-grid solar power system, the school lacked access to electricity, depending on candles and battery-powered lights as the only light source for the teachers who also reside in the school. Student learning was also limited to non-electrical technology, limiting the ability to gain vital technical skills needed for higher education and employment for those who may choose to eventually leave the village for larger, more modern communities.
By providing access to reliable and sustainable energy to the school, the Peruvian students are now able to utilize modern learning equipment such as laptops, computers and printers to expand their learning experiences and technical skills development. As a central location in Ccollpapata with full access to electricity, the school could potentially serve as a hub for the entire community.
A recent grant from the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity program helped offset much of the cost to the 10 NAIT students who travelled to Peru. The funding will support student travel costs for four years. Starting in 2023, NAIT will look to send 22 students per year on international work-integrated learning trips aimed at bringing access to affordable and clean energy to communities in need.
The Peru project was the polytechnic’s first international student trip since 2019 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The 10 students and two instructors departed Edmonton on April 22. The installation took four days to complete.
In the months leading up to the trip, the students took a 15-week course to gain skills in intercultural competency and communication, international project management, and risk identification and mitigation strategies – all valuable skills in today’s global marketplace. Students learned about the steps involved with executing an international project in a remote community with people of other cultures speaking other languages. This included project planning, approvals, design, procurement, and logistics. They discussed energy and environmental issues in Peru, learned intercultural communications strategies, and explored global energy issues.
QUOTES
ABOUT NAIT’s ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
- NAIT’s two-year Alternative Energy Technology diploma program prepares students for successful careers in Canada’s fast-growing clean energy technology industries.
- Students learn the theoretical and practical skills needed to design, integrate and maintain systems that utilize major alternative energy sources such as solar, geothermal, wind, biofuels, hydro, fuel cell and co-generation.
- Graduates of the program have successful careers in areas such as renewable energy system design and installation, energy advising and management, and clean energy and sustainability project coordination and management.
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