Conference Proceedings

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Conference Proceedings

EuroSun 2014

Aix-les-Bains (France), 16 – 19 September 2014

StudyGreenEnergy – Information portal for university programs

on renewable energy

Christian Budig1_{, Klaus Vajen}2_{, Andreas Gerber}3_{, Jan Mugele}4_{and Matthias Kramer}5

1_{IdE Institute decentralised Energy Technologies, Kassel (Germany)} 2_{Institute of Thermal Engineering, Kassel University, Kassel (Germany)}

3_{Institute for Buildings and Energy Systems, Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Biberach (Germany)} 4_{Institute of Electrical Engineering, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Magdeburg (Germany)}

5_{International Institute Zittau, Technical University of Dresden, Zittau (Germany)}

Abstract

Within this paper, the information portal “StudyGreenEnergy” is presented, providing free information on degree programs in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency (RE) in Europe for interested students, universities and companies.

With StudyGreenEnergy a permanently actual, pan-European study guide is available for the field of RE. The information portal shall provide an overview of the entire offer of degree programs in this field covering whole Europe. Portraits of all degree programs as well as an individual ranking of the degree programs characterize StudyGreenEnergy. The offer is open to interested students and universities: interested students can identify their suitable degree program and universities can present their specific profile.

Since May 2014, interested students can obtain information on the RE-offer of degree programs in German-speaking regions. In autumn 2014, the database will be extended with degree programs in the field of RE from all over Europe. Thus, starting in the beginning of 2015, a consistent, international and permanently updated European study guide in the field of RE will be available.

1. Introduction

The increased development of renewable energies is an important focus for German politics and the economy. In 2013 renewable energies are contributing around 12 % to German primary energy consumption, with renewable electricity contributing around 25 % to total electricity consumption [BMWi, 2014]. In 2013, the total turnover in renewable energies in Germany was Euro 15.2 Billion, while the total pan-European investment in renewable energies was around Euro 50 Billion [REN, 2014]. Up to 371 000 jobs have been created in Germany in the various sectors of renewable energies by the end of 2013, which was 210 900 more than at the end of 2004 [DLR, 2014]. Pan-European, approximately 1.2 million people worked in the renewable energy sector by the end of 2013 [REN, 2014]. In future years the development of renewable energies shall proceed in Germany and Europe. This can only succeed if enough experts will be available with an academic education for this rapidly growing sector.

All over Europe, more than 1 000 degree programs are available in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency (RE) (cf. Fig. 1). However, their contents differ strongly so even experts can hardly compare them (cf. Fig. 2). Students have probably no chance to identify a degree program which really meets their interests. The aim of StudyGreenEnergy is to make degree programs comparable by quantifying their educational criteria. Students can now find the program that perfectly suits their interests. Furthermore, universities have a platform to promote their degree programs in detail.

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Fig. 1: European offer of degree programs in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Fig. 2: Graphic illustration of the orientation of two degree programs. Lectures are classified and the credits of lectures in a field are summed up and plotted in the diagram. The illustrated degree programs both bear the name “renewable energies”,

but they obviously differ considerably concerning their orientation.

2. Target groups and innovation aims

The information portal “StudyGreenEnergy” shall be used particularly within three target groups and has been developed correspondingly:

Interested students who can identify and choose a degree program which corresponds exactly to their interests and skills, particularly programs in foreign countries. Exemplary objective: “I am looking for a bachelor program in German language with its focus on wind energy without tuition fees.”

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Christian Budig / EuroSun 2014 / ISES Conference Proceedings (2014)

Universities that can be identified due to their degree programs and their specific content. Exemplary objective: “We are looking for qualified students as well as for partner universities suitable to our profile for an international exchange of students.”

Companies that can identify specifically graduates at home and abroad with a particular educational profile. Exemplary objective: “We are looking for graduates of a master program in Portuguese with a focus on biomass to develop the Brazilian market.”

In comparison with the current offer of information, StudyGreenEnergy have the following innovations and advantages:

Broad presentation of the European degree programs in the field of RE Portraits with detailed contents of the degree programs

Ranking of the degree programs by using individual search- and filter criteria

Continuous possibility to update the information on the degree program by the universities All offers are free of charge (non-commercial; developed by universities for universities)

3. Finding degree programs on StudyGreenEnergy

The integration of the degree program database into an interactive website enables the interested students an individual ranking of the degree programs. The search functionality of StudyGreenEnergy is shown in figure 3. On the left side you find the search criteria (blue) and on the right side the search results (green). Prospective students can display their interests by using a slide control and identify degree programs suitable for their skills and interests (cf. Fig. 4). In addition to all the relevant information, the content of the degree program is displayed in detail (cf. Fig. 5).

Fig. 3: Screenshot of the search functionality: The user can configure his desired degree program by the use of several search and filtering functions (left side) and gets an individual ranking of degree programs (right side).

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Fig. 4: Screenshot of the search functionality: Prospective students can display their interests by using a slide control (educational details) and get an individual ranking of suitable degree programs.

new search criteria

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Fig. 5: Screenshot of an exemplary portrait of a degree program: Besides all the relevant information, the content of a degree program is displayed in detail.

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4. Finding degree programs on StudyGreenEnergy

The basic idea of StudyGreenEnergy is the development of a central information portal, where the input und update of information is performed decentralized by the supervisor of a degree program (cf. Fig. 6). Supervisors can publish their degree programs within three steps on StudyGreenEnergy:

First step: Supervisors have to register on www.studygreenenergy.org.

Second step: Supervisors have to enter the information about their RE degree programs by using standardized web forms in a non-public area of StudyGreenEnergy (cf. Fig. 7).

Third step: In order to make the portrait of the degree programs visible for all visitors of

StudyGreenEnergy, the supervisors have to publish it. Publishing degree programs is only possible for supervisor verified by the StudyGreenEnergy team. This ensures that only authorized persons (and not e.g. students) can publish degree programs on StudyGreenEnergy.

Supervisors can login at any time to update their degree programs whenever changes occur. Once a year the supervisors will be requested to re-verify the information of their degree programs by an automatically generated e-mail.

Fig. 6: Concept of StudyGreenEnergy: On the left side the filling and updating process of the database is presented. Through interaction between the users and StudyGreenEnergy the information are processed in an user-friendly way (right side).

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5. Developed by Universities for Universities

The information portal “StudyGreenEnergy” is an offer developed by universities for universities. The concept of StudyGreenEnergy was developed within the “council universities” (Fachausschuss Hochschule) of the German Section of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), represented by more than 120 professors [Vajen et al., 2011]. The project is realized by “IdE Institute decentralised Energy Technologies gGmbH” in Kassel, in cooperation with Kassel University, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Biberach University of Applied Sciences and the Technical University of Dresden.

The following cooperation partners are amongst others part of our extended network: International Solar Energy Society (ISES), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie and Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften & Biomedizin in Deutschland.

StudyGreenEnergy is subsidized by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) in the framework of the National Climate Initiative of the Federal Government. Co-funding is provided by the Nagelschneider-Foundation.

6. Summary

In Europe, more than 1 000 degree programs are available in the field of RE. The educational orientation of these degree programs often distinguish strongly. Therefore, interested students have probably no chance to identify the degree program which really suits their interests.

The online study guide “StudyGreenEnergy” provides free information on degree programs in the field of RE. StudyGreenEnergy shall provide an overview of the entire offer of degree programs in this field covering whole Europe. Portraits of all degree programs as well as an individual ranking of the degree programs characterize StudyGreenEnergy.

Since April 2014, interested students can obtain information on the RE-offer of degree programs in German-speaking regions. In autumn 2014, the database will be extended with RE degree programs from all over Europe. The input and update of a degree program’s information is performed decentralized by the supervisors.

StudyGreenEnergy is a non-commercial offer, developed by universities for universities. The study guide is subsidized by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and the Nagelschneider-Foundation.

7. References

[BMWi, 2014] Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Erneuerbare Energien im Jahr 2013, February 2014

[REN21, 2014] Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st_{Century, Renewables 2014 – Global Status}

Report, June 2014

[BMUB, 2012] Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety: Erneuerbar beschäftigt, August 2012

[DLR 2014] German Aerospace Center, Beschäftigung durch erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland: Ausbau und Betrieb - heute und morgen, dritter Bericht zur Bruttobeschäftigung, May 2014

[Vajen et al., 2011] Vajen K., Sparber W., Heilscher G., Committee of University Teachers for Renewables Energies, Proceedings of Solar Word Congress 2011, Kassel (Germany), 28.08 – 02.09.2011