Katharina Krell, EUREC Agency

Introduction

EUREC Agency is the initiator and coordinating agency of the graduate programme "European Master in Renewable Energy". The European Master in Renewable Energy is directed towards engineers that want to specialise in one of the renewable energy technologies, such as wind energy, biomass energy, photovoltaics, solar building technology or hybrid systems. A network of 7 European universities and research centres leading in renewable energy RD&D runs the course.

The course is of great interest to companies as it delivers qualified engineers equipped with the latest skills and the right experience for a successful career in their industry.

Demand for technical RE expertise

In 2000, a survey was undertaken by EUREC Agency as part of an ALTENER project, with the key findings[50] showing a growing shortage of suitably trained technical staff for the RE sector and a distinct demand for postgraduate courses. The survey indicated a severe lack of high level teaching materials, due to inertia in higher education institutions and the slow rate of recognition of the renewable energy’s increasingly important role in the energy mix.