This document discusses workforce development trends in renewable energy training. It notes that training needs to be aligned with job task analyses, responsive to market demand, accessible locally, target the right students, and tie content and hours to prerequisites. There is a trend toward training programs offering greater depth and breadth, from single courses to certificate and degree programs. Renewable energy training should also emphasize hands-on skills development and practice. When done right, comprehensive training benefits workers, communities, consumers, students, and the renewable energy industry.

1. Workforce
Development:
Training
Needs
and
Trends
Jerry
Ventre
Interstate
Renewable
Energy
Council
IREC
Annual
MeeEng
Los
Angeles,
California
October
11,
2010
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2. Training
Needs
• Industry
demand
for
trained
workers
• Locally
accessible,
high
quality
training
• Properly
targeted
and
prepared
students
• Curriculum
designed
for
defined
jobs
and
career
pathways
• Well-­‐equipped
instrucEonal
faciliEes
• Sufficient
opportunity
for
student
pracEce
2

3. PV
Training
PrioriEes
UElity
Installers
Personnel
Building
System
Designers
Designers
Technical
Code
Sales
Officials
3

4. Job
or
Task
Analysis
Define
and
PrioriEze
Subtasks
Review
and
Validate
Define
Major
Tasks
Define
DuEes
High
Performers
Define
Job
Observers
Job
Title
Increasing
Detail
Researchers
4

5. Training
Focus
Add-­‐on
skills
vs.
Specialists
5

6. Targets
and
Prerequisites
Ability
Prior
Knowledge
MoEvaEon
Learning
PotenEal
6

7. NJATC
Model
for
Training
Electricians
• 900
hours
in
the
classroom
plus
hands-­‐on
laboratories
• PV-­‐specific
training
(number
of
hours
vary)
• 8,000
hours
on-­‐the-­‐job
training
and
mentoring
• ConEnual
professional
development
of
trainers
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8. Trend
Toward
Greater
Depth
and
Breadth
One
or
Two
CerEficate
Degree
Courses
Programs
Programs
• HVCC,
Hands-­‐ • HVCC,
Diablo
• HVCC,
Lane
On
Solar
Valley
College
CC
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9. Conclusions:
Renewable
energy
training
needs
to
–
• Be
aligned
with
approved
task
analyses
• Be
responsive
to
market
demand
• Be
locally
accessible
in
high
demand
areas
• Properly
target
students
• Tie
content
and
instrucEonal
hours
to
prerequisites
• Emphasize
add-­‐on
skills
and
individual
pracEce
• Broaden
offerings
and
educaEonal
foundaEons
• Include
meaningful
learning
assessment
• Offer
professional
development
opportuniEes
for
trainers
9

10. When
done
right
–
everybody
wins!
Workers
Community
Consumers
Students
Industry
Educators
10

11. Thank
you
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