IBM, UNSW & Ausgrid team to offer smart grid training

Stuart Corner
Monday, 11 April 2011 11:40

IT Industry - Strategy

IBM, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Ausgrid (formerly EnergyAustralia) have launched an education program in smart grids at UNSW aimed at IT professionals, telecommunications engineers and electrical power engineers

According to IBM, "The course aims to help develop the skills of telecommunications engineers, power engineers, software and information technology engineers, project managers and executive sponsors who oversee smart grid projects and arm them with the knowledge necessary to deliver complex smart grid programs."

IBM says that it, Ausgrid and UNSW "will each contribute world-class expertise, thought leadership and teaching personnel to the course."

David Jones, executive project manager, IBM Australia, said: "IBM is intent on addressing this knowledge gap within the electrical, telecommunications, and IT industries, and assisting the university to develop new material for its under-graduate and post-graduate power engineering curriculum."

He added: "IBM brings design and delivery experience, industry research and global expertise and insights, and can help clearly articulate the business benefits of accelerating Australia's adoption of smart grids."

IBM says it has been working with Ausgrid and UNSW for the past 18 months to design the course, and has already conducted a pilot course in February 2011 to test and refine all elements. Professor Vassilios Agelidis, professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications and director of the Centre for Energy Research and Policy Analysis at UNSW, oversaw the progress of the first batch of industry professionals who took this course. The week long course will be offered again in June.