From April 22 to 24, Astana will host the Regional Environmental Summit (RES), which will include an important panel session on training specialists for renewable energy in Central Asia. The event is organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Today, the global renewable energy sector is growing rapidly: in 2023, it employed more than 16 million people. Central Asian countries are planning a major breakthrough, aiming to commission up to 8 GW of new solar and wind energy capacity. However, the pace of industry development is already outstripping the capacity of the education system. A shortage of qualified engineers and technicians is becoming the main barrier to achieving these ambitious plans in the region.

During the session on April 23, participants will discuss how to adapt university curricula to real market demands and strengthen students’ practical training. CAREC Executive Director Batyr Mamedov emphasized that the transition to clean energy is first of all about people capable of designing and maintaining future systems. An important topic will be the involvement of the private sector in workforce training and innovation.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting will be the signing of memorandums of understanding between technical universities of Central Asia and CAREC. This will create a foundation for joint research and academic mobility. The event will serve as a platform for developing solutions that can be implemented within the next year and a half, strengthening energy security and regional resilience to climate change.

ORIENT

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