KIITEC LAUNCHED SOLAR POWER PLANT AND SOLAR LABORATORY

Excellency Malika Berak, Ambassador of France in Tanzania (C) cuts a ribbon to officiate the launch of Solar Power plant and laboratory at KIITEC in Arusha, others in photo are senior officials from the partners institutions supporting the Institute.

FTE President Fransis Bronchon,(R) briefing invited guests on Solar Project at KITEEK during the launch event at Arusha.

Excellency Malika Berak, Ambassador of France in Tanzania(C) got briefing on project from, Albert Mtana, (R)-Teacher of Electrical and Solar Photovoltaic System (L) is Michel Ramser-VP Strategic Marketing and Sponsorship (ADEI).

Solar panel installed at the centre.

The Kilimanjaro International Institute for Telecommunications, Electronics and Computers (KIITEC) has launched 30KW solar power plant and solar laboratory at its training centre in Arusha recently.

The Guest of Honour at launch event was Her Excellency Malika Berak, Ambassador of France in Tanzania, also the... event brought together the partners that have supported KIITEC for many years. These are: Schneider Electric East Africa, the Schneider Electric Foundation, ADEI, EDF Help and the Foundation for Technical Education (FTE).

Speaking during the event, KIITEC Director of studies, Mr. Daniel Mtana, said the opening of this solar power plant speaks to the accomplishment of institute’s vision to become the centre of training excellence for renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaic systems in East Africa. “Committed to true hands-on experience, KIITEC has now invested heavily in photovoltaic solutions and strives to be recognized as the premier provider of quality technical education in a student-centered community.”

General manager at Schneider Electric East Africa, Mr. Mr. Edouard Heripret, said in most sub-Saharan countries, the rate of enrolment in formal secondary technical and vocational training and education (TVET) does not exceed 5%. “Vocational training has always been at the heart of Schneider Electric’s DNA. In East Africa, we have been committed to support technical training since 2009. Kiitec was one of our first training partners and I am pleased today to participate in the inauguration of the solar plant and laboratory, as these new components will allow students to have a full set of competencies to enter the labour market and will support access to energy for everyone.”

Mr. Heripret added “At Schneider Electric, we are building sustainable communities through energy knowledge and leadership, thanks to the Schneider Electric Foundation. Its aim is to contribute to the development of people and societies through education, innovation, awareness-raising and vocational training related to energy. It acts, anywhere in the world where the company is present, through its three programmes.

KIITEC is an international technical institution, was founded in 2004 by French engineers and has produced some of the most competent technicians in the country. Two NGOs, the Foundation for Technical Education (FTE-Swiss) and Action Development Education International (ADEI-French), support the institution. Schneider Electric assists ADEI in its support of KIITEC.

The institute is a pilot centre, with the goal of transposing and exporting its model from Tanzania, to Kenya. It provides its students with the basic skills in telecommunications, electronics, information science, networks and industrial automation systems. The training lasts over two years. It comprises lectures complemented by practical training, project design, and a three-month outplacement in a company. As of today, 350 young people, comprising 90% of the students, have obtained their diploma, the ‘National Technical Award’, which is recognized by the local government, and have all found jobs, mainly in the industrial maintenance sector.