About the CEEECoM Project

Nepal and Bhutan have abundant hydropower potential, but their current challenge is to maximize the consumption of electrical energy produced. Nepal plans to promote electric mobility, electric cooking, and rapid industrialization to achieve its goal of being a net-zero emission nation by 2045, while Bhutan has already been selling its hydro-energy to India. However, the frequent power outages in both countries due to poor maintenance of their electrical equipment of their power network and industries can hinder their energy trade and lead to a financial shortfall. The lack of clear government policies, budget, and expertise, including expertise in power system condition monitoring and maintenance, are the factors that influence effective implementation.

Although engineering courses at the tertiary level have been offered in Nepal and Bhutan, they still lack the relevant curricula, technical experts, laboratory, and research facilities to meet the current market demands. Aalto University in Finland and TalTech in Estonia can contribute to the needs of both countries by providing modernization of the existing courses and curriculum, relevant laboratory and research facilities, and training intended to produce technical experts working in the field of power system condition monitoring and maintenance. This project aims to address the problems by bringing innovation in higher education teaching and learning methods to enhance its relevance for the labor market and society.

The purpose of this project is to address the problems related to expert workforce in the field of diagnosis, monitoring, and maintenance of the power systems and related components in the partner countries by bringing innovation in higher education teaching and learning methods to fill the expertise gap and enhance its relevance for the labor market and the society as a whole. The project will help Nepal and Bhutan to produce in-house human resources in the field of condition monitoring of power equipment making both the countries independent of external consultants. The main objective of the project is to implement real problem-based teaching and learning methods in the curriculum of HEIs of the partner countries. This is possible thanks to the expertise and know-how of the EU partner Universities and their long-term teaching in this field. The Project will also help the EU partners to renew their education in this field and build a sustainable flow of students in both directions.