Solar Energy and Water Systems: New Majors at the Applied Science University

- The two specializations align with the state’s direction toward using renewable energy in government facilities

- Solar-powered school buildings require technicians for operation and maintenance

- Two million dinars in savings achieved through the use of solar energy in school buildings

- Specialized technicians to monitor the efficiency and maintain solar panels in schools

In a move reflecting the direction of government entities toward aligning educational and training outputs with labor market needs and the future requirements of state institutions, the Civil Service Bureau officially approved the establishment of a technical program for the operation and monitoring of the efficiency and quality of water systems, and a technical program for the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). The two specializations will be offered at the Energy Institute affiliated with the Authority.

The approval followed a tripartite meeting held earlier, involving the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, the Civil Service Bureau, and the Ministry of Education. The meeting discussed the establishment of the aforementioned specializations, their relevance to the current and future needs of the Ministry of Education, and the requirement for specialized technical cadres in these fields in the coming phase.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the establishment of these two specializations responds to the future needs of the Ministry of Education, particularly given the state’s direction toward using renewable energy in buildings and government facilities, alongside the need for specialized technical cadres to operate and monitor water systems in educational institutions.

The meeting also discussed the Ministry of Education’s actual direction toward using solar panels in school buildings, noting that several modern school buildings already operate on solar energy, while there are no specialized technicians in this field within the Ministry’s organizational structure. This situation necessitates the preparation of qualified technical cadres to handle operation, monitoring, and maintenance tasks.

The meeting further highlighted the importance of establishing a technical specialization in the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems, whereby technicians would operate and monitor solar panels in school buildings, track system efficiency, ensure proper operation, and provide technical supervision over maintenance contracts in case of future engagement with specialized companies, in coordination with the Ministry’s engineering sector regarding maintenance, operation, and development works.

The meeting noted that the use of solar-powered systems has contributed to financial savings estimated at approximately two million Kuwaiti dinars, underscoring the importance of expanding in this field and the need for permanent specialized technicians affiliated with the Ministry of Education’s engineering sector to supervise the operation, maintenance, and technical monitoring of these systems.

The meeting also addressed the importance of establishing a technical program for the operation and monitoring of the efficiency and quality of water systems, given the direct impact of this field on student health and the safety of the school environment. Specialized technicians would be responsible for operating and monitoring water tanks, pressure indicators, pump and filter performance, and water networks.

It was also discussed that the technician’s duties should include ensuring that water quality meets health and environmental standards, collecting water samples, conducting preliminary tests, or sending them to specialized laboratories, as well as detecting faults, reporting them, and contributing to their repair.

The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training emphasized during the meeting that the introduction of any new specialization or training program is based on labor market needs and the requirements of government entities, ensuring that training outputs align with the actual needs of institutions. It noted that the Energy Institute aims to produce specialized technical graduates who serve ministries and state institutions at large.

The participants agreed that the approval of the two specializations reflects a trend toward enhancing integration between government entities and educational and training institutions, and preparing specialized technical cadres that align with the transformations underway in state facilities, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, operation and maintenance of systems, and water quality monitoring in educational establishments.

- Technical supervision of maintenance contracts, should specialized companies be contracted in the future, in coordination with the engineering sector regarding maintenance, operation, and development works.