Tools
The generation gap is a challenge for the energy sector due to the expected high employee turnover. The growing share of renewable energy micro-installations and the increasing demand for specialized staff make it necessary to educate professionals in the field of installation and operation of renewable energy installations. In school ZSP No. 1 in Siedlce, under the auspices of PGE Energia Odnawialna, a specialization was launched: „Technique of renewable energy devices and systems”. The company has equipped a modern laboratory with specialist teaching equipment, including solar collector, photovoltaic panel and wind turbine. Similar activities took place in schools in: Zgorzelec, Opole, Radom, Wejherowo and Gorlice.
PGE GiEK signed agreements on sponsored classes for first years at five secondary schools within the Zgorzelec, Bełchatów and Gorzów poviats. Starting in school year 2018/2019, selected technical secondary school classes that are aligned with PGE’s business profile are held under the auspices of PGE. Based on these agreements, students study the following professions: electrician technician, mechanics technician, energy technician, mechatronics technician and automatics technician. Professional visits, practical classes and apprenticeships are organized. Scientific scholarships are funded for outstanding students.
PGE Energia Ciepła is running the Energetic Career (Polish “Energetyczna Kariera”) project in cooperation with technical secondary schools in the cities where the company’s assets are located. In the first place, the project assumes enabling the apprentice to learn a profession in real working conditions, get to know the heat and power plant and get to know specific positions through apprenticeships and internships. Close cooperation with schools allows the education programs to be adapted to the market needs of the district heating industry.
PGE’s patronage class program is designed to revive vocational education and educate employees with competences corresponding to the needs of the Polish economy, including the energy sector
PGE Dystrybucja also cooperates with secondary schools. Since 2016, the company has been implementing a program entitled „Support for vocational education”, which enables departments to broadly cooperate with secondary schools. So far, 19 agreements have been signed which oblige the parties to jointly work to improve students’ practical skills, as well as to present modern technologies used in modern energy. Under the agreements, many opportunities for joint action have been created – both internships and apprenticeships as well as promotional activities aimed at encouraging young people to choose technical professions.
The choice of various forms of cooperation depends on the needs of a specific school and a given company’s branch. In several branches, under the patronage of the company, „energy” classes operate successfully, incl. in Ełk (Białystok Branch), Sieradz (Łódź Branch), Skarżysko-Kamienna. Thanks to regular classes, it is possible to organize the knowledge of future electricians. Young energy adepts, after completing the lessons, have knowledge about the dangers of working on the grid, but they also know the methods of safe work – despite the presence of voltage up to 30 000 . Meetings with the company’s representatives allow to systematize the theoretical knowledge of students in the field of production, transmission and distribution of electricity. Students of energy classes participate in actions carried out in the company, incl. in the action of planting trees „Forests full of energy”. In the Łódź branch, energy specialists accompany students at the end of the school year, awarding the best of them in the technician-energetic classes (with an average above 4.00) in kind prizes.
