DAMOC, Development of a HArmonized MOdular Curriculum for the Smart Grid

In Tanzania, the provision of reliable and affordable energy to consumers is listed as one important goal to ensure growth and reduction of poverty. The Smart Grid concept aims at improving environmental sustainability, efficiency, quality, and stability of energy supply. Thus, it has to be expected that Smart Grids will also be introduced in African countries to ensure a successful development of power management. In South Africa as an emerging nation, this process is already ongoing.

A successful technology transfer requires to build capacities to find, absorb, and use existing technologies and to enhance them according to local needs and conditions. The Smart Grid requires knowledge from different disciplines such as power supply, information technology, and economics; new risks to security must be handled, and privacy as a human right has to be considered. Hence, an interdisciplinary approach for capacity building in this field is an important challenge. Existing courses of study at the partner institutions - distinguished research and teaching institutions in their countries - cover important aspects like power system modelling or energy storage, but lack the coherent structure of Smart Grids.

Envisioned outcomes of this project are new, interdisciplinary master courses implemented at partner institutions in Africa, running laboratories, online courses, and an improved networking between the partners. Teaching staff and students of target institutions will benefit from the improved level of HEI and an increased employability of graduants