The recently published  World Energy Employment report from the International Energy Agency calls attention to the growing demand for highly skilled workers in the energy sector. Clean energy employment is set to grow to an estimated 30 million by 2030, creating a need for workers with energy sector-specific skill sets. Despite this immense potential for growth and innovation, the clean energy sector will face a dire shortage of talent in the coming years. At the same time, there are thousands of young people worldwide who are deeply passionate about a just energy transition and have the potential to become leaders in the industry. However, they lack access to skills training programs, mentorship networks, and entry-level project experience needed to enter these careers. The clean energy sector is one field where partnerships are required to break down barriers that divide youth from the workforce. 

Student Energy Career Training (SECT)

The program connects young people between 18 and 30 from diverse backgrounds directly to energy industry partners who share experience, provide mentorship, and support the next generation of the energy workforce. This project partnership is committed to promoting youth voices that inspire innovative ideas and collaborative solutions necessary for a sustainable energy future.

As a partner, SEforALL will mentor and guide the 2022 SECT cohort through learning about and addressing a real-world energy problem. SEforALL will be hosting two projects in this cohort — the first addressing healthcare, and the second for China- UN Platform on Climate Cooperation and Renewable Energy. Over half the world’s energy employment is in the Asia Pacific region, and the People’s Republic of China has the largest number of energy workers. It has an estimated near 20 million workers and is home to energy’s largest and fastest growing workforce, making it an essential market for research and analysis on the energy transition. This platform aims to accelerate and scale up the deployment of renewable energy in identified countries by sharing knowledge and success stories from China, while also leveraging China’s expertise and development support to accelerate the deployment of clean energy in countries across the Global South, most notably in Africa.

About Student Energy Career Training

Student Energy Career Training (SECT) is a 4-month cohort-based program aimed at young people between 18 and 30 who are interested in pursuing a career that advances the energy transition but may not yet have the skills, knowledge, or connections necessary to get a ‘foot in the door’. Led by Student Energy and co-created by knowledge partners Enel Foundation, this program offers students a comprehensive introduction to the current energy system, decarbonization pathways, energy economics, and policy. 

Student Energy Career Training aims to provide students in each cohort with the technical and soft skills necessary to secure an internship or entry-level role in the clean energy sector by connecting students with mentors from leading energy organizations like Enel Foundation and SEforALL. They provide subject matter expertise and support students in becoming career-ready through energy system education, project management skill building, and career coaching.

About Sustainable Energy for All

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations, government leaders, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society, and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 – in line with the Paris Agreement on climate.

We work to ensure a clean energy transition that leaves no one behind and brings new opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential. Partnerships are essential to our work. Delivering on the mandate of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and the Paris Agreement demands concerted action. Given the ambition of both international frameworks, this will not be a small task and we will not achieve progress alone.

Call to Action

Applications to join the 2023 Student Energy Career Training cohort open in December 2022!

The program is open to young people aged 18-30 around the world from all academic and professional backgrounds. Beginning in January, the program will be a 4-month course featuring core energy education and mentorship from Student Energy and expert energy organizations, including SEforALL.

Learn more at: https://studentenergy.org/program/career_training_program/

Young people today want to be part of the energy transition, and implement solutions to mitigate climate change. Now we need to ensure that there are training programs available to help them gain the skills they need for a job, and that governments and companies are working with them to design the energy future. To assist in achieving both goals, Student Energy is thrilled to be welcoming the Enel Foundation as a Knowledge partner on the Student Energy Career Training program and our Global Youth Energy Outlook Action Toolkits. 

The Student Energy Career Training Program is a 4-month intensive cohort-based program aimed at young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested in pursuing a career that advances the energy transition. The program is designed to simulate an internship experience, during which members of the cohort work side-by-side with practitioners on real-life projects. In this framework, participants are also provided with a comprehensive introduction to the current energy system, decarbonization pathways, energy economics, and governance, as well as with applied skills training related to project management and finance.  

The Global Youth Energy Outlook is a first of its kind dataset that maps out what over 40,000 young people in nearly 130 countries want from the energy transition. Preliminary analysis found that the majority of young people want the world to achieve net zero before 2050, and believe that government willpower as well as private sector’s commitment are crucial pieces to enable this to happen.

Student Energy and Enel Foundation will work together to strengthen the theoretical know-how and enhance the soft skills of the participants of the Career Training program, as well as to consolidate the results and maximise the outreach the GYEO towards international institutions and private companies. 

About Enel Foundation:

Knowledge platform for a clean energy future. 

We focus on the crucial role of clean energy to ensure a sustainable future for all. 

By envisioning a sustainable future – resilient and equal – boosted by quality education and an enlightened self-interest by the business community. The future we want is powered by affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern electricity, smartly distributed to all. 

We focus on research and education. 

By developing partnerships with pre-eminent experts and institutions across the globe, leveraging on the vast knowledge of our founders. We conduct research to explore the implications of global challenges in the energy domain, develop scenario analysis, define policy and regulation opportunities and promote education programs for qualified stakeholders in the scientific and institutional realms. 

We operate at the intersection of business and society. 

By engaging institutions and governmental bodies, thought leaders and civil society representatives, industry experts and academia. We are a non-profit organization seeking to converge with likeminded actors determined to solve global challenges ensuring a sustainable future for all. 

About Student Energy:

Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since 2009,  Student Energy has worked with thousands of  youth from over 120 countries, to build the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to take action on energy. Student Energy operates on a unique youth empowerment model, which means that initiatives are co-created with youth, for youth.

Student Energy has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as the UN, Indigenous Clean Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, HSBC Global, the Stockholm Environment Institute, DNV, WSP, and national governments like Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. Student Energy has stewarded CAD$10 million+ in funding to date, supported the development of over 280 youth energy projects, held 6 international Student Energy Summits, and attracted over 13 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

Media Contact:
Shakti Ramkumar, Director of Communications and Policy, Student Energy
shakti@studentenergy.org
+1 (604) 445 4306