Australia has launched the SAR100-2.0 programme, aiming to empower 100 mid-career women engineers from South Asia’s power sector. This initiative seeks to enhance their technical and leadership skills, fostering greater gender diversity in the energy industry.
Building upon the success of the initial SAR100 programme, SAR100-2.0 was officially inaugurated on 16 December 2024. The programme is a collaborative effort under the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) initiative, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through Palladium International. The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand serves as the coordinating hub for this endeavour.
The curriculum is comprehensive, focusing on:
- Operation of regionally integrated power systems with high renewable energy penetration, including hydropower.
- Power markets for regional integration and scaling-up renewable energy.
- Soft skills development to promote gender awareness and leadership.
- Participants will engage in a hybrid format over six to eight months, combining online classes, supervised assignments, practical sessions, self-study, and interactive engagements. The programme culminates in a capstone event at AIT, Bangkok.
Eligibility criteria include:
- An undergraduate engineering degree, preferably in power or energy systems.
- Regular employment status between 27-47 years of age.
- A minimum of three years’ technical experience in roles directly related to power or energy engineering, or eight years in related engineering specialisations.
- Middle-management level positions.
- Experience with generating companies, transmission companies, system operators, market operators, regulatory or planning organisations, in both public and private sectors.
- Candidates are also required to submit a personal statement detailing their background, motivation for pursuing a career in the power sector, expectations from the SAR100-2.0 programme, and anticipated contributions to society upon completion.
The programme comprises ten modules:
- Introduction to Regional Power Systems and Renewable Energy (RE) Integration.
- Planning and Design of Integrated Power Systems.
- Operation and Control of Integrated Power Systems.
- Maintenance and Optimisation of Integrated Power Systems.
- Introduction to Power Market and Regulatory Framework in South Asia.
- Power Market Operation and Trading.
- RE Integration in Power Markets.
- Power Market Planning & Governance in South Asia.
- Distribution and Distributed Generation.
- Women and Leadership.These modules are designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of modern power systems, emphasising renewable energy integration and leadership development.
The SAR100-2.0 initiative underscores Australia’s commitment to promoting gender diversity and empowering women in the energy sector. By investing in the professional development of women engineers from South Asia, the programme aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable energy future for the region.
For more information, interested individuals and organisations can visit the official SAR100-2.0 website or contact the programme coordinators at AIT.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on available sources and may be subject to updates as the programme progresses.
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