A. Duta1*, I. Visa1, C. Jaliu1, M. Visa2 and D. Perniu1

1 Transilvania University of Brasov, Product Design for Sustainable Development Centre, B-dul Eroilor 29,

500036 Brasov, Romania

2 College for Natural Sciences, Brasov, Romania
* Corresponding Author, a. duta@unitbv. ro

Abstract

The promotion of renewable energy systems among the young people represents a must in the education of advancing good life and good environment. One of the first steps in this process consists in training the teaching staff to be able to accurately provide, the knowledge from this field, to the pupils. This idea was the main starting point of the Socrates-Comenius 2.1 project “Sustainable Energy — An European Training Tool” (SEE EU Tool), begun in 2005. The project, gathering a multi-actor partnership, involves education providers and beneficiaries from eight countries and aims to develop a curriculum and a training course in the field of renewable energy systems and sustainable environment solutions dedicated for in-service teachers training. The SEE EU Tool project provides an European frame for teacher in-service training on sustainable development, focusing on renewable energy systems for environment protection. The paper presents an analysis and a synthesis of the project results: the frame, the needs analysis, the curriculum, the specific methodology and the main outcomes.

Keywords: education, renewable energy systems, in-service training course

1. Introduction

At international level, the necessity of raising awareness towards sustainability in the energy sector is well-known, from both perspectives: producers and users. The subject of renewable energy is known as being important, but it is widely recognized that it is a lack of specific knowledge, [1].

Education of youngsters in the field of renewable energy systems is important in preparing the future scientists, developers and consumers in the field, as well as in directly supporting the sustainable development aim, [2]. The first requirement in pupils’ education consists in training a core of teaching staff able to provide accurately, the knowledge in this field. This idea was the main starting point of the Socrates-Comenius 2.1 project “Sustainable Energy — An European Training Tool” (SEE EU Tool), that runs beginning with 2005, [3, 4].

Close to its end, the project developed the curriculum and training instruments, based on an extended needs analysis; testing courses were run as short sessions (2007) and full course (2008). The paper presents an analysis and a synthesis of the project results and of its main outcomes.