In Trelew, Chubut, the students from the local Technical School have installed a new wind-solar hybrid system, capable of providing opportunity for energy self-sufficiency in the rural community.
Consolidating Argentina’s Energy Transition in the Institutions – Insights from Ministerial Discussions
In the context of the YouthEnergy project in Argentina, we held key meetings with authorities and representatives from the provinces of Chubut, Neuquén, and Mendoza. These discussions explored the project’s provincial impact, evaluated progress, and outlined strategies for the development and implementation of future activities.
In Zapala, an institutional meeting was held with Neuquén’s Minister of Education, María Soledad Martínez, and representatives of the YouthEnergy project. The discussion centered on the energy transition and the integration of training programs with energy kits in the school curriculum. Minister Martínez highlighted the importance of optimizing resources to face climate challenges and strengthen environmental education, reaffirming the commitment to renewable energies.
The meeting also highlighted the shortage of technical professionals and the need to expand training opportunities. In addition, progress is being made on a new curriculum design with an environmental focus. The project was recognized for its impact on teacher training, student learning and knowledge sovereignty. Notably, more teachers completed the training than initially enrolled, demonstrating its success and multiplier effect. This initiative is considered a key commitment to technical education and sustainable development in Neuquén.
In Chubut, Minister of Education José Luis Punta met with representatives of our YouthEnergy project and other institutions to discuss its implementation in the province. A project summary was presented, along with the announcement that, in the Cordillera region, the contents of the first year will be applied in 30 schools with didactic kits, with no limit on the number of teachers trained.
The Minister stressed the importance of scalability and cross-institutional collaboration. The possible adaptation of the educational experiment to the secondary level was also discussed as a future step. Additionally, the opening of a renewable energy technician school in Trelew and the homologation of the bachelor’s degree in energy and sustainability were announced.
As a next step, a regional forum was proposed, bringing together ministries and high school students, since they have participated in United Nations models and are already familiar with the topics.
The final meeting with provincial authorities took place in Mendoza, where WISIONS’ Willington Ortiz and Cecilia Bonet conducted interviews with Minister of Education Tadeo García Zalazar, Coordinator of Technical Education and Labour Laura Quiroga, and Undersecretary of Planning Leandro Rodríguez.
Discussions covered the progress of the YouthEnergy project, including the installation of a wind turbine at School 4-053 Martínez Leanez and the success of teacher training sessions. Strategies for ensuring the project’s continuity were explored, such as aligning it with provincial initiatives and securing private sector funding.
It was also proposed to present the project at the Science Fair for greater visibility and engage the Provincial Legislature as a key actor. Additionally, the project was linked to the Environmental Guardians programme, which encourages secondary and higher education students to take action on environmental issues in Mendoza.
