The higher education sector is undergoing rapid changes as the need for access to learning opportunities has never been greater, new skill sets are required to support the technologies and challenges of the future, and mechanisms for engaging students are evolving swiftly. Traditional approaches to higher education have been challenged and innovative approaches are needed. The Clean Cooling Network – Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (CCN-ACES) has emerged with a bold new programme for delivery of Master of Science (MSc) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD), to train the future leaders of emerging economies in the critical areas of sustainable cooling systems. ACES is currently going through accreditation with the Rwandan Ministry of Education to award Master’s Degrees and certify CPD courses.
The ACES Centre for Master Training (ACES-CMT) is being built on established partnerships for high quality postgraduate courses delivered through integrated online learning platforms with hybrid and face-to-face provision, providing an innovative and distinctly practical education. Selection of postgraduate courses from an ACES-CMT menu will enable bespoke programs to be tailored to match student interests and employer needs. Courses can be taken individually to accrue credits towards an MSc, or to enable micro credentials and individual CPD certification to be obtained. They can also provide flexible on-going CPD for professionals as needs arise after achieving their MSc.
Operating in partnership with academic institutions, professional organisations, and employers enables new high-quality courses that address emerging needs to be identified and provided swiftly, as well as the latest teaching and learning innovations to be implemented rapidly within the curriculum. By establishing relationships with employers, the ACES-CMT will support a pool of existing and future staff in these organisations with assurance that trained employees have obtained the advanced skill sets that are required to effectively perform their functions. Development of an MSc thesis through the ACES-CMT in collaboration with employers will enable tailoring of research projects towards the organisation’s needs and, additionally, aligns academic experts with topics relevant to industries in emerging markets.
The financial model of the ACES-CMT is based on student enrolment in courses supported by individual students, their employers, and through scholarships. As markets increase within emerging economies, to access new opportunities students from outside these regions working broadly within the industries of sustainable energy, cooling systems, and cold-chains will also be attracted by the ACES-CMT to obtain in-country relevant learning. Direct employer support for their staff to access the ACES-CMT offers the ability of the training program to deliver skill sets needed by employers.
A scholarship program that Enhances Ability through Education (ENABLE) has been piloted through ACES. Support of students by ACES-ENABLE Scholarships provides access to Heriot-Watt University’s online MSc programs in renewable energy with emphasis on sustainable cooling systems embedded in a structure of in-country support. The latter brings online students together as cohorts and provides professional development events and opportunities throughout the program, and cohort leaders and Scholars have direct access to the Scholarship director to address administrative issues and enhance academic success. The ACES-ENABLE Scholars enrolled in September 2024 continue to work full-time within an organisation and complete their MSc studies part-time as a component of their employer’s staff-development initiatives. Upon completion, students become alumni of the program and support future ENABLE Scholars.
The ACES-CMT is about building partnerships and delivering high quality innovative postgraduate education relevant to the emerging markets of the world. If you are interested in exploring with us the flexible learning opportunities it will provide please contact [email protected]. We aim to launch first courses later this year.