Call for Applications: Career Training Program

The Student Energy Career Training Program (SECT) is a multi-disciplinary program that builds leadership and employability skills through energy education, project management training, individualized career coaching, teamwork and collaboration and experiential learning opportunities with leading energy companies.

Student Energy is dedicated to solving this challenge in partnership with Enel Foundation by empowering young women in Africa with the requisite sector skills, networks, and knowledge needed to play an active role in the energy transition.

This cohort will be receiving African participants who identify as women, and who will be based on the African continent at the time of participating in the program.

Benefits

• Access to learning modules covering Energy Systems 101 and Specialized Energy-related topics
• Hands-on experience working with an industry partner on a real-world project
• Mentorship with energy professionals
• Gain experience in project management, leadership, and teamwork
• Personalized career coaching and support on job search
• Access to Student Energy’s global network of youth and opportunities

Program Specifications

• The program will take place from July 2025 to February 2026 with a commitment of average 10 hours per week for 30 weeks:
  • Mid-July to Mid-August: Coursework: This includes attending the Launch Webinar, completion of the General Curriculum on the Learning Hub with a total of 6 learning units and 1 assignment, and attending all introductory coaching calls with your assigned coach and project team (4 hours per week for meetings and curriculum work).
  • Mid-August to Mid-December: Active Participation and Practicum Project: This includes participating in two mandatory meetings each week. One meeting will be with your assigned Project Partner, while the other is with your project team. The Practicum Project will run throughout mid-August to mid-December, which includes delivering a final presentation and completing the assigned project deliverables. During this period, you will have to complete the Specialized Curriculum videos in the Learning Hub with a total of 6 learning units (10 hours per week to completing tasks assigned by project partners and 2 hours for meetings).
  • Early January to Early February: Career Development and Coaching: This includes the completion of five career development learning units, professional development webinars, and attending one-on-one career coaching sessions (4 hours per week for career acquisition skills development, 1:1 career coaching, webinars and mixer events).

Eligibility Criteria

• Application to the Career Training program is open to women in Africa aged 18-30 years who are interested in working in the sustainable energy sector. The program is fully online and delivered in English.
• Applicants should meet the following requirements:
  • English Language Fluency: Are you fluent in English and comfortable communicating with global peers, SECT coaches, and industry partners in English?
  • Education: Have you completed or are you currently enrolled in a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree program of any discipline?
  • Reliable Internet Access: Do you have reliable internet access to participate in virtual sessions, complete online coursework, and collaborate with peers?
  • Nationality and Location: Do you have an African nationality and are currently living in an African country?

Application Requirements

• Answers to the following essay questions (max 250 words each):
  • Why do you want to participate in the Career Training Program?
  • What skill or topic are you most excited to learn about through this program. Why?
• A 2-3 minute video uploaded to YouTube of yourself answering the following prompts:
  • How does the SE Career Training Program (SECT) fit into your existing career path and future goals?
  • Describe a situation where you thrived in a team environment and how your teamwork skills contributed to success.
  • Highlight your key strengths, ambitions, and the unique experiences you’ll bring to the program and your project.
• Your curriculum vitae (CV) in PDF, limited to 2 pages long.

For more information, visit Student Energy.