DSTC Solar Training Centre- ISP Accredited Training Centre
In December 2006 the Institute for Sustainable Power awarded DSTC accreditation as a solar training centre. The accreditation is for the two training courses:
- Design and Installation of Stand Alone Power Systems
- Installation and Maintenance of Stand Alone Power Systems.
DSTC is the first ISP accredited training centre in sub-Saharan Africa.
Background Information on Institute for Sustainable Power
What is the Institute for Sustainable Power and why is it needed?
The Institute for Sustainable Power, Inc. (ISP) is a non-national, non-profit organisation incorporated to coordinate, develop, and maintain international standards for the evaluation and qualification of trainers, training programs, and training evaluators/auditors for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and distributed generation workforce development, and standards for job competency content.
The ISP was established in 1996 and until 2005 had a head office based in Highlands Ranch (Denver) Colorado. It was initially developed to provide investor confidence in the competency of RE designers and installers for renewable energy projects. A method was required to be developed that would provide evidence of this competence.
Even recently, RE has not been taught within established technical colleges, universities or similar educational institutions. The courses that are taught are not necessarily subject to the rigorous accreditation procedures required for courses conducted at established training institutions within most countries.
The ISP has therefore established ISP Quality (ISPQ) technical committees to prepare international standards. Training programs (organisations) and continuing education programs are accredited, and instructors and master trainers are certified, to these standards. On receiving accreditation/certification the training organisations or trainers can certify technicians (designers and installers). An accreditation committee ensures that the standards are relevant and of sufficient quality.
The aim of the ISP is to ensure that all technicians working in the industry are trained to the same high standard.
ISP is still a central corporation administered by an international board that comprises an executive committee and representatives from regional licensees. The current board comprises:
- President: Mr. Geoff Stapleton (Australia)
- Vice-President: Mr. Bernard McNelis (UK)
- Secretary : Ms. Jane Weissman (USA)
- Treasurer: Mr. Roger Taylor (USA)
- ISPQ-Europe Representative- Ms Zhu Li (UK)
The actual day to day administration and promotion is undertaken by ISP licensees. Currently there are three licensees:
- USA Licensee – Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)- Executive Director – Ms Jane Weismann
- European Licensee – ISPQ-Europe- Ms Zhu Li
- Asia-Pacific Licensee – GSES- Managing Director Geoff Stapleton.
Work is currently underway to appoint the ASEAN Centre for Energy in Jakarta as the ASEAN Licensee.
The ISP mechanisms are used to confer accreditation on training providers in different countries.
A copy of the “Accreditation Applicant Information Booklet 2005” is available from the website: www.ispglobal.org
Applicants can apply for the following accreditation/certification:
- Accredited Training Program;
- Accredited Continuing Education;
- Certified Instructor;
- Certified Affiliated Master Trainer;
- Certified Independent Master Trainer;
Accreditation is the official qualification of a program or organisation, and certification is the qualification of an individual.
The “General requirements for Trainers and Training Programs offering Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Distributed Generation Training” is contained in the International Standard ISPQ IS 01021, a copy is available from the website www.ispq.org.. This overview summarises the key points of these two documents.
The Accreditation and Certification process involves a candidate’s submission of a detailed application showing how the candidate meets the Accreditation or Certification standard, followed by an audit and/or review process. ISPQ-Registered Auditors work with candidates through an ongoing exchange to ensure that they meet all the standards before recommending them to the Accreditation Awards Committee, which makes the final award.
DSTC has been registered with COTVET as a TVET Service provider and also commenced processes to have our courses accredited with COTVET hence the Ministry of Education of Ghana.