| Abstract |
The United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008. It has operated in Iceland since 1979 offering six months annual courses for professionals from developing countries. From being one of four geothermal schools established in the 1970s the UNU-GTP is now the only international graduate school offering specialized geothermal training. The aim is to assist developing countries, with geothermal potential, in capacity building in order to make the countries self sufficient in geothermal development. The training is tailor-made to suit the needs of the home country. UNU Fellows generally receive scholarships financed mainly by the Government of Iceland. Since 2000, cooperation between the UNU-GTP and the University of Iceland (UI) has opened the possibility for few UNU Fellows to extend their studies to MSc level, with the six months training adopted as an integral part (30 out of 120 ECTS). In 2008, the cooperation has been expanded to include PhD studies, with two former UNU Fellows commencing PhD studies in 2008-2009. As a contribution to the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UNU-GTP has expanded activities by annual workshops/short courses in Africa (started in Kenya in 2005), Central America (started in El Salvador in 2006), and Asia (started in China in May 2008). The events are set up in cooperation with local energy agencies responsible for geothermal development. A part of the objective is to increase geothermal cooperation and to reach out to countries with interest in geothermal development who have not yet received quality training. Africa is a major cooperating partner of the UNU-GTP. Amongst the 402 UNU-GTP graduates (1979-2008), 107 or 26% have come from eleven African countries. Moreover seven out of sixteen UNU MSc graduates have come from Kenya, one from Uganda, and one from Djibouti. And an additional three UNU MSc-Fellows from Africa (Eritrea and Ethiopia) are currently pursuing MSc studies in Iceland. Also, the first two UNU PhD-Fellows are Kenyans. Kenya is currently the leading country in geothermal development in East Africa, and many of their specialists have been trained in Iceland. The UNU-GTP looks forward to see other African countries succeed in geothermal development, and is determined to provide the training opportunities that the region needs. |