VICTORIA – The future of education is now, as Camosun College launches its first ever micro-credential to equip learners with the skills to create net-zero energy buildings that are efficient, healthy, long-lasting and climate-friendly.
The college’s new Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings micro-credentials will power the sustainable economy and society of the future.
Ross Lyle
“The Advanced Skills for Clean Energy and Efficient Building micro-credentials allow tradespeople and working professionals to advance their career in the high-performance building sector,” says Ross Lyle, Chair of Mechanical Engineering Technology. “Learners will be able to acquire the skills needed to implement BC’s 2032 building code goals—right now in 2021.”
Camosun’s approach will prepare students for internationally recognized certifications offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, Natural Resources Canada and Passive House.
Mark Bernhardt
“The building industry is moving quickly to adopt high performance low carbon techniques and materials,” says Mark Bernhardt, Canadian Home Builders Association (Vancouver Island). “This is largely being driven by customer demand for healthier more sustainable homes and to a lesser extent by regulation through better building codes. There is currently a high demand for trades and other industry professionals that can deliver these buildings and that demand will only increase.”
The new micro-credentials are offered primarily by distance on weekday evenings, allowing learners to continue to work while upgrading their skills. They can be stacked to earn specializations or taken as standalone course offerings. Hands-on experience opportunities will be available with specific micro-credentials in all streams.
In September 2020, BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training put out a call for proposals under the BC Micro-Credential Initiative. Camosun applied and received $211,000 for new micro-credential initiatives centred on clean energy and energy efficient buildings. Camosun aims to have students enrolled in the first cohort in March 2021.
A large portion of the funding will go towards a new clean energy and energy efficient lab space to support Camosun’s commitment to hands-on and experiential learning. The over-arching purpose is two-fold: to provide hands-on training in making buildings highly energy efficient, comfortable and resilient; and to offer hands-on training in using photovoltaics as a source of clean energy to make buildings net-zero energy consuming.
The modern workplace is constantly changing and professionals need to continuously upgrade their skills. Micro-credentials are a non-traditional way of learning that highlight individual expertise and skill-building, and are changing the future of education from a time-based method of learning to a competency-based one.
For more information, please visit: www.camosun.ca/clean-energy
