In the framework of the “Increasing Employability for Syrian Refugees and Turkish Host Community Members” Project, funded by the Republic of Korea, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey and the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) General Directorate of Lifelong Learning, the first phase of training are completed in Bursa, Kocaeli and Konya provinces. The project aims to increase the access of 500 people to existing job opportunities in the field of renewable energy with applied vocational and technical training in 5 provinces. Within the scope of the project, the trainees who completed “Photovoltaic Solar Panel Installation and Hybrid (Solar-Wind) System Integration” training were awarded a Course Completion Certificate with Europass validity. Along supporting Syrians and host community members to gain technical skills in the field of renewable energy through vocational and technical training, the project also creates an ecosystem that brings private sector, public institutions, business organizations, non-governmental organizations, and universities together.

Vocational and technical training was completed in Bursa, Kocaeli and Konya within the scope of the “Increasing Employability for Syrian Refugees and Turkish Host Community Members” Project implemented under UNDP Turkey’s Syria Crisis Response and Resilience Portfolio and financed by the Republic of Korea. Total of 66 trainees, including 22 women, 44 male, received training.

The project aims to contribute to sustainable development, local socio-economic development, and social cohesion through creating an educated human resource in the field of renewable energy and increasing their employability in the sector. The trainings which are planned to benefit 300 people in Bursa, Kocaeli and Konya in the first phase and 200 people starting from July in Hatay and September in Mersin, primarily focus on the training of the unskilled workforce in the renewable energy sector. In the provinces of Hatay and Mersin, the renovated buildings will be launched before the beginning of the trainings.

In the first phase, “Installation of Photovoltaic Solar Panels and Integration to Hybrid (Solar-Wind) System” trainings were held in Bursa, Kocaeli and Konya provinces with the participation of 66 Syrian and host community member trainees. The participants were provided vocational and technical skills training on the installation, maintenance, and repair of existing equipment of power plants and facilities producing renewable energy in the field of solar and wind energy. The trainings which consisted of the following subjects; occupational safety of the employees, measuring the physical size of the equipment according to the nature of the size, material preparation with mechanical processes, basic electric arc welding, photovoltaic system installation site preparation, photovoltaic construction, installation of solar panels, electrical installation of the solar power plant, solar panel maintenance and repair, basic principles of alternating current, converter and inverter circuits, hybrid (solar – wind) system installation and GES automation tracking, were carried out face-to-face and hands-on in classrooms arranged following COVID-19 measures. The trainees were provided a training kit including a mask, disinfectant, pen, notebook, USB and environmentally friendly bag, and they were awarded a Europass valid course completion certificate at the end of the training. The second stage of the trainings started in Kocaeli in May 2021, and in Konya and Bursa as of June 2021.

The renewable energy sector is increasing its share day by day in Turkey as well as all over the world as a result of developments such as combating climate change, progress in production technologies, and sustainable energy supply, and with the pilot projects implemented in recent years, it creates a solution to issues such as the transition from the low-skilled workforce to an educated workforce and social cohesion. “Increasing Employability for Syrian Refugees and Turkish Host Community Members in the Renewable Energy Sector” project implemented in partnership with the MoNE General Directorate of Lifelong Learning with the financial support of the Republic of Korea, aims to contribute to sustainable development and social cohesion while supporting sustainable energy. The project also draws attention to the fact that women make up at least %25 of the total employment target within the scope of gender equality.