| rttagtype | | | | generous assistance in attending higher education |
| tags" name="PlaceName"> | | | | solar schools. The Masdar Institute of Science and |
| Sometimes it's not enough to merely say that the | | | | Technology in Abu Dhabi in partnership with the |
| hot ticket for a guaranteed future job is training in | | | | Massachusetts Institute of Technology is offering to |
| solar technology. Sometimes not even an article in | | | | U.S. students scholarships to study solar technology. |
| the venerable New York Times is enough to alert | | | | The program offers study in alternative and |
| those seeking job training and those wanting to | | | | sustainable energy, and the studies will be located on |
| increase their already existing alternative energy | | | | a campus powered entirely by renewable, mainly |
| training skills that the way to future economic | | | | solar, energy. Assistance includes 100% free tuition, |
| prosperity is though studying at solar schools. In | | | | books, laptop, housing, travel expense |
| many cases private industry has teamed up with | | | | reimbursement, exam fee reimbursement, and no |
| non-profit organizations and educational institutions to | | | | conditions upon graduation. The program will offer |
| get the word out and make gaining solar credentials | | | | both master's degrees and doctorates. |
| more attractive and affordable. If the promise of a | | | | Other organizations endeavor to not only reach out |
| green job isn't enough, organizations are finding ways | | | | to prospective students but to educate the entire |
| to make the rewards of solar schools more | | | | public on the need for alternative energy training and |
| immediate. | | | | solar schools. One of the better-known projects, the |
| Scholarships are one of the ways to help make | | | | National Energy Education & Development |
| education more easily attainable. One organization, | | | | Project (NEED) strives to make awareness of the |
| Capital Idea of Austin Texas, is helping students | | | | need for renewable energy a regular part of the |
| study solar technology at Austin Community College | | | | public school curriculum. NEED makes all of its |
| by paying for their books, tuition, and in at least one | | | | curriculum free and readily available to teachers and |
| case paying for part of child daycare. The program at | | | | schools. Other organizations have done similar things |
| Austin Community College offers students an | | | | on a local or state level. For instance the Texas State |
| associate's degree in Renewable Energy Specialization | | | | Energy Conservation Office commissioned lesson |
| in Solar Photovoltaic Energy. At least fifty of the | | | | plans for grades kindergarten through twelve to be |
| students are currently studying under full scholarship. | | | | used at all Texas public schools. |
| Experts say this isn't a surprising figure considering | | | | While vast sectors of the workforce have been laid |
| the expected job growth in green technology and | | | | off and others are facing an uncertain future, solar |
| the public need to consume as much solar power | | | | power information is an area of study that has |
| information as they can. But others at Capital Idea | | | | adequate funding and guaranteed job placement. |
| say that what is surprising is that additional funds are | | | | What it doesn't yet have are enough students |
| available, but not enough people have shown interest | | | | currently enrolled. But if the collaboration of industry, |
| in the scholarships to solar schools. | | | | government, and non-profit organizations achieve |
| It's not just at the community college level that free | | | | their goal, we will all soon know about the benefits of |
| rides are being offered. Other institutions are | | | | studying at a solar school. |