Deadline: 6-Sep-24
British Council is inviting UK further education colleges and training organisations, especially those committed to developing solar energy curriculum to participate in an International Skills partnership with Botswana Power Corporation.
Skills development is a national priority in Botswana, not only as an enabler of economic growth, but also to address key issues around high unemployment and the skills shortages that the country is facing. Coupled with this, rapidly changing technologies are putting increased pressure on vocational education and training institutions to transform from traditional teaching and learning to more innovative methods that will keep them relevant and responsive to economic growth areas such as the energy sector (Solar Energy).
The British Council international skills partnerships bring together organisations in the TVET sector from the UK and overseas to share their knowledge and expertise, and to collaborate on projects that focus on enhancing approaches to skills development internationally.
Partnerships are supported financially by the British Council to deliver projects, typically funded for one year with a view to becoming self-sustaining thereafter.
Over the past two years they have engaged with the following sector organisations in Botswana to advance government priorities in skills development and Renewable Energy:
- Ministry of Education Skills and Development
- Human Resource Development Council
- Botswana Power Corporation
- Botswana Solar Association
The partnership will focus on curriculum development for one or more of the following potential courses:
- Solar Energy Systems Installation Certification (including grid tie systems) – block release (weekends only – 12 weeks) – class based.
- Solar Energy Projects Management (2 weeks) – online delivery.
- Solar Energy Apprenticeship Program (weekends only – 12 weeks) – class based element. Partners will agree jointly which of the above listed areas to focus on.
Funding Information
- Successful applicants will be eligible for £30,000 of grant funding to support partnership activities. The grant will cover reciprocal visits to the UK and Botswana, staff time (limited to 30% of the grant), development of tools and resources. The project will be funded for 12 months, starting from the end of September 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
- Each proposal must have one Lead institution from the UK
- UK Lead institution must be one of the following:
- Further education college
- Independent training provider
- Membership organisation with a role in the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET)/Further Education (FE) system
- Sector skills organisation
- Awarding body
- The partnership can include in their proposals Associated Partners which can be one of the following:
- Employer organisations and industry bodies
- Other education organisations/charities/foundations/membership bodies
- Any other public or private organisations with a role in TVET/Further Education system
- Not-for-profit organisations, including Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
- Government organisations
- Civil society organisations (CSOs) and social enterprise organisations.
For more information, visit British Council.