Energy Efficiency (EE) and increased used of Renewable Energies (RE) are the key elemets to achieve the EU 2050 goals. The HEBA project aims to ensure that the universities in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan can offer a high quality education compatible with European standards that meets the market needs of the emerging knowledge-based society by strengthening EE+RE teaching. The main objective of HEBA is to reform and improve existing master programs in EE+RE on single technologies and energy systems level in buiding and industrial sectors and improving/establishing Centers of EE+RE Technologies in the partner countries cooperating with each other. The centers will train postgraduate (PG) and undergraduate (UG) students on EE+RE methodologies and technologies for different sectors and will contribute to guidelines for best practice for the efficient use of energy and renewable energies in a joint collaboration between EU and partner universities. The former will transfer EU best practices, experiences and methodologies according to the Bologna process to support the development and diffusion of an innovative experience in technical higher education in the partner institutions supporting the capacity and knowledge building in EE+RE Technologies. Outputs of HEBA in the partner universities will be* adapted curricula * at least 12 new or improves exisiting courses and lecture books/e-learning tools for PG and UG students on EE + RE* 6 1-week train-the-trainers courses for the future lecturers (min. 70) of the participating EU universities * 12 Master thesis of students from partner universities at participating EU universities * Establish/improving laboratories of “EE+RE” Technologies (EEREL center)* Contribution to guidelines for practice for EE+RE in industry and buildings HEBA will thus contribute to an increase of the local competences on EE+RE that will promote curriculum reform and leave a longer-term legacy for Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan universities.
HEBA – which in Arabic means “gift from God” and is used as a name for girls, was taken to represent the earth as a gift from God. The consortium helped the society to protect the earth through the project activities within Energy Efficiency and Renwewable Energies (EE+RE). It provided qualified professional resources capable of sustaining and managing the huge effort of the new lectures, curricula and infrastructure development in this field. Special emphasis was given to advanced energy management. HEBA is oriented to further development of the process of interaction with professional communities and reflects their requirements in the developed curriculum. The Mena partners achieved the objective of HEBA, by introducing mainly master level courses in the curricula, setting up of accompanying laboratories and training their teachers within the HEBA Train-of-Trainers courses. This all happened in accordance with the country’s ambitious development plans. HEBA integrates true multi-disciplinarily into the curriculum considering being shaped in close collaboration between the industry/business/public authorities and applied scientific research. The courses/modules and adapted curricula were based on the particular needs and challenges of the building/industry/energy sectors in the region evaluated by questionnaires and provide insights into implementation of research results, development and deployment of new technology and inciting entrepreneurship. This highlights the necessity of collaboration between different disciplines within EE+RE. The international dimension of the HEBA collaboration has broadened the shared knowledge base, multiplied the network and brought quality outcomes in terms of training of the next generation of energy efficiency and renewable energy specialists. HEBA is also aligned with the larger framework of the external policies of the EU in which energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is one of the high priority areas defined in the recent EU strategy ‘Agenda for Change’. This link to the industry and private sector in turn contributes to creating jobs and generating growth, innovation and investments in sustainable use of natural resources and cleaner technologies, resulting in energy and resource efficiency and low carbon development.