By Staff Writer
The National University of Samoa (NUS) has signed up to undertake a certificate course in sustainable energy in a joint arrangement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).
The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) just over a week ago on Friday 26 February 2021 to make the arrangement official.
MNRE will sponsor students who are interested in studying the certificate course that the NUS Faculty of Technical Education (FOTE) is required to run.
The certificate is an investment by the MNRE in the education of trained workers who will contribute to efforts by Samoa to mitigate against the damaging impacts of Climate Change.
The development of renewable energy sources is one of the set targets for Samoa to reduce damage to the environment.
The aim is to generate 100% of its electricity from sustainable energy by 2025 to reduce the dependence on fossil fuel harmful to the environment and resulting in climate change.
Samoa is currently generating 50% of electricity from renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar energy, wind and the newly launched biomass gasification plant at Mulifanua.
MNRE Chief Executive Ms. Frances Brown-Reupena signed the MOU with the NUS Vice-Chancellor Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma for the certificate study.
“Students will learn of energy systems and services and learning energy solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial premises,” CEO Brown-Reupena said at the MOU signing.
The NUS Faculty of Technical Education, Ms Lineta Tamanikaiyaroi confirmed the commitment from the higher learning institution to the Government’s efforts for more education in sustainable energy for Samoans.
“Samoa is supporting the global fight in reducing carbon emission that affect ozone layer and result in increasing of temperature which has a significant negative impact on small islands of the Pacific including Samoa,” the FOTE Dean said.
The students now studying under the certificate programme started on their renewable energy studies last week on Monday.