Career Education in Renewable Energy Technology

麦迪逊地区技术学院（MATC）与可再生能源技术教育联盟（CERET）合作，为高中和两年制大学教师提供可再生能源技术培训培训学院，并通过在线和面对面的课程向学生提供可再生能源证书。该项目通过在生物能源和先进太阳能光伏领域开发新的专业开发产品和证书，加强和扩展了目前的模式。该项目的主要目标是为全国两年制大学和高中教师提供可再生能源专业知识，同时创建模范职业道路，为学生提供广泛的技能和灵活性，以应对艰难和不可预测的劳动力市场。第二代和第三代生物燃料和先进太阳能光伏发电的新课程和证书将是这一努力的主要成果。这个为期三年的项目解决了社区大学和高中教师在可再生能源技术专业发展方面的关键需求，以满足学生对这些就业增长领域日益增长的兴趣和培训需求。参与的教师通过实践培训，提高他们在可再生能源技术方面的知识和技能。作为生物燃料培训的一部分，参与者学习第二代和第三代生物燃料，生产生物柴油燃料，对燃料样品进行测试，测量石油和生物燃料的排放，并讨论和分享生物燃料教学技术。在高级光伏学院，学员们练习太阳能电力系统的安装、检查、故障排除、维修和退役。在这两个领域同时开发新的可再生能源证书，为当前的学生提供了在传统就业领域专攻可再生能源的机会，并为各种技术领域的在职工人提供了重新装备的机会，使他们在绿色能源职业中更具竞争力。为了增强培训培训师模式的影响，该项目针对来自缺乏专业发展资源的校园的教师，例如：来自小型机构，来自偏远地理区域，以及来自服务少数民族，经济弱势群体和其他代表性不足群体的学校。参与学院的高中和两年制大学教师之间的交流与合作，反过来又有助于为学生从高中到大学再到劳动力市场的过渡建立职业道路。该学院的专业发展模式和证书课程有助于满足生物燃料和太阳能电力行业对可再生能源技术人员日益增长的需求。新的课程和相关材料可以通过CERET和其他可再生能源组织获得，这样其他学校即使在预算紧缩的年份也可以在校园里开设可再生能源课程。

Madison Area Technical College (MATC), in collaboration with the Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology (CERET), offers Train the Trainer Academies for high school and two-year college instructors in renewable energy technologies, and Renewable Energy Certificates to students through online and face-to-face courses. This project strengthens and expands the current model by developing new professional development offerings and certificates in both bioenergy and advanced solar photovoltaics. The primary project goal is to provide renewable energy expertise to two-year college and high school instructors around the country, while creating model career pathways that give students broad skill sets and flexibility in tough and unpredictable labor markets. New courses and certificates in second and third generation biofuels and advanced solar photovoltaics will be the primary products of this effort.This three-year project addresses a critical need for community college and high school faculty professional development in renewable energy technologies to meet the growing student interest and demand for training in these job growth areas. Participating faculty enhance their content knowledge and skills related to renewable energy technology through hands-on training. As part of the biofuels training, participants learn about second and third generation biofuels, produce biodiesel fuel, perform tests on fuel samples, measure emissions on petroleum and biofuels and discuss and share techniques for teaching about biofuels. In the Advanced Photovoltaics Academy, participants practice installation, inspections, trouble-shooting, repair, and decommissioning of solar electric systems. Concurrent development of new, renewable energy certificates in these two areas provides current students the opportunity to specialize in renewable energy within traditional employment fields and provides incumbent workers in a variety of technical fields the opportunity to retool and become more competitive in green energy occupations. To enhance the impact of the Train the Trainer model, the project targets faculty from campuses that lack the resources for professional development such as: from small institutions, from remote geographic areas, and from schools that serve minorities, economically disadvantaged, and other underrepresented groups. Communication and collaboration between high school and two-year college faculty participating in the Academies, in turn, helps to build career pathways for students as they transition from high school to college to the workforce.This faculty professional development model and certificate program helps to meet the growing demand for renewable energy technicians in the biofuel and solar electric industries. The new courses and associated materials are available through CERET and other renewable energy organizations so that other schools can cultivate renewable energy courses on their campuses, even during lean budget years.