REI Alumni Spotlight – Ousmane Sissouma, Associate Engineer, United Nations (Mali)

GMC Certificate Achievers & REI Alumni Spotlight

Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award

The Renewable Energy Institute is pleased to focus on the achievements of those who have attended the REI’s accredited renewable energy courses and accomplished the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate to further their careers in the renewable energy sector.

This month, the REI is delighted to speak with Ousmane Sissouma, Associate Engineer at the United Nations (Mali), to hear about his experience studying our Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award. Ousmane is part of the Renewable Energy Institute’s global network of course participants from over 150 countries worldwide. Our alumni includes delegates from Hilton International Hotels, EDF Energy, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and many more.

The REI’s Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award is available to study flexibly online from home over an 18-month period. This award includes 12- 15 courses with access to tutorial videos led by renowned academic professors and industry experts and the option of studying 3 of your courses in the Live Virtual Classroom.

Ousmane Sissouma was born in the Bamako Republic of Mali in 1977. He attended Bamako University where he obtained a University Diploma in Physics and Mathematics. Following this, Ousmane completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2006. Ousmane currently works for the United Nations in Mali.

After achieving his Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award with us, Ousmane spoke with us about his experience with the REI.

1. Hi Ousmane, what is your professional background and expertise and how does this relate to the renewable energy field?

From 2006 to 2014 I worked at Manutention Africaine Mali as a generator mechanic, then as a diagnostic and itinerant mechanic, and finally as a PSC (Product Support Coordinator) on a local mining site. As a generator mechanic, I worked on the ACERT CATERPILLAR engines which were designed to tackle polluting emissions. I now work for the United Nations in Mali having joined in 2014 as an Engineer Assistant in the Electromechanical Department. I was then promoted to Associate Engineer. Since 2022 I have been working as the Supervisor of the Generator Department.

2. Why did you choose to train with the Renewable Energy Institute?

It took me a long time to find a centre as reliable as the Renewable Energy Institute. I was convinced that it was the right choice thanks to their professionalism and the flexibility of the study options. I found the course contents to be perfectly suited to the needs of my field.

3. What did you enjoy most about studying the Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award?

I was most interested in Combined Heat and Power (CHP), anaerobic digesters and the sizing of hybrid plants. As a professional it is difficult to go back into a classroom to update your knowledge; the REI is an excellent solution to this. I would say that almost all aspects met the expectations I had for this training, for example the concept of CHP which I plan to use to produce organic fertilizer. The training on renewable energies from the REI will allow me to be in sync with the new policies on the use of renewable resources.

4. How will you apply the skills from your Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award to your career?

In the future, I would like to use my new skills to start my own company. I would like to develop digesters with the aim of reducing hunger and pollution emissions. I would also like to focus on the recovery of wasted raw materials to be repurposed in energy production. In my current position, we aim to produce cooking gas and organic fertilisers from the digesters. We combine this with the use of solar panels in fields, to produce clean energy. The mission cannot rely on the national production network and so is totally autonomous thanks to thermal power stations operating with generators.

Conclusion

An Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award with the Renewable Energy Institute will open a world of opportunities. The renewable energy industry continues to grow year after year and frequent developments in the technologies lead to new opportunities for those working in the sector. The Master Award with the REI is flexible, internationally recognised and led by the best in the field.

• Choose from 15 accredited renewable energy courses and achieve a minimum of 12 Galileo Master Certificates over an 18-month period.
• Teaching from university lecturers & industry-leading experts with decades of experience in the renewable energy & energy efficiency sectors.
• Learn online at your own pace – access downloadable course materials, videos, optional one-to-one live tutorial and remote examination from your location.
• Access Live Virtual Classrooms and receive the Mastership Status of the Renewable Energy Institute Membership Programme.

Do you want to upskill with the Renewable Energy Institute? There are limited places available on the Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award, book your place now to start. If you would like more details on this programme, or would like to register, please email training@renewableinstitute.org for more information. Alternatively, you can call us on +44 (0)131 446 9479.