UK further education colleges and training organisations, especially those with an interest and experience in solar energy, can apply for funding to partner with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), to help develop a curriculum around green solar energy.

This is an excellent opportunity for a UK training provider to build their network and capacity to work internationally.

About the grant

The selected college will be eligible for a grant of £30,000 to support partnership activities.

Activities can include reciprocal visits to the UK and Botswana, staff time (limited to 30% of the grant), the development of tools and resources, etc.

About the partnership

The successful UK institution will have demonstrable experience in curriculum development for the green solar energy sector.

BPC is a state-owned company for electrical power generation, transmission and distribution in Botswana, established in 1970 and currently the only electricity supplier in the country.

Through its in-house training centre, BPC has a mandate for (up)skilling BPC employees, contractors and the local community on technical skills.

The partnership will focus on curriculum development for one or more of the following potential courses.

1. Solar Energy Systems Installation Certification (including grid tie systems) - block release (weekends only – 12 weeks) – class based.
2. Solar Energy Projects Management (2 weeks) – online delivery.
3. Solar Energy Apprenticeship Program (weekends only – 12 weeks) - class based element.

Partners will agree jointly which of the above listed areas to focus on.

This will be the first solar energy curriculum to be developed by the BPC training centre.

The partnership will be supported by the British Council UK Skills team and British Council’s Botswana country office.

The project will be funded for 12 months, starting at the end of September 2024.

This call for proposals is part of the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme which builds stronger, more inclusive, internationally connected higher education and TVET systems by supporting partnerships between universities, colleges, education policymakers, civil society organisations and industry partners around the world.