[open-sustainability] Fwd: IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership helping young professionals enter the sector

[Andrew Cox]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <scholars at irena.org>
Date: Mon, Jul 22, 2013 at 8:51 AM
Subject: IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership helping young
professionals enter the sector
To: Energy-l <energy-l at lists.iisd.ca>


The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is proud to announce the
launch of the IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership (IRELP;
www.irelp.org) database for renewable energy internship opportunities. The
internship database is an addition to the existing IRELP portal, which
currently features more than 1,500 renewable energy courses, seminars,
degree programmes, webinars and training guides. The global internship
database has been created with the intent to help young professionals enter
the field of renewable energy and raise the profile of renewable energy as
an attractive career option (www.irelp.org/internships).

The foundation of a strong workforce will be pivotal in the global
transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. IRENA estimates
that in 2012 there were as many as 5.7 million people employed in the
renewable energy sector. Yet despite this, there remains a critical
shortage of skilled personnel to develop, design, finance, build, operate
and maintain renewable energy projects. IRELP emerged out of the
acknowledgement that this shortage represents one of the greatest barriers
to the wider diffusion of renewable energy technologies.

During an economic recession, it can be extremely difficult to find a job –
especially for students and recent graduates. In the wake of the financial
crisis, global unemployment rates have hit 6%, with little expectation of
improvement projected until after 2016. Those most severely affected are
youth aged 15–24, with the global youth unemployment rate at 12.6%.

Fortunately for recent grads, the renewable energy sector continues to grow
at unprecedented rates, with renewables projected to account for 74% of new
power capacity added worldwide by 2030. Through the IRELP renewable energy
internship database, IRENA aims to provide more opportunities for young
professionals to gain experience in the renewable energy sector.

Internships open doors to future jobs, fellowships, graduate school, and
networks. Internships not only provide valuable work experience and
opportunities for networking but also give young people the opportunity to
test drive a career before committing. Meanwhile, internships give
employers the opportunity to find the talent they need to help grow their
organizations without relying on just a short interview process. Entry
level employees are the future of organizations and in many ways are the
most important recruiting decision an employer can make.

Employers in the renewable energy sector may contact the IRELP team at
info at irelp.org to have their internship opportunities posted within the
IRELP internship database.
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