EU-FUNDED PROGRAMME TO BE JOINTLY DEVELOPED BY FOUR SRI LANKAN UNIVERSITIES

Sri Lanka is set to introduce an internationally oriented Master’s degree programme in Green Hydrogen Technologies under the GREEN-HET project, which was officially launched in Colombo on November 10 under the patronage of Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka.

Funded by the European Union under its Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) programme, the three-year initiative brings together leading academic institutions and industry stakeholders to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capacity in green hydrogen education, research and technological development.

The Master’s degree programme will be jointly developed and delivered by the Universities of Jaffna, Moratuwa, Peradeniya and Ruhuna. The University of Jaffna will serve as the national coordinating institution.

The project is coordinated by Norway’s Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, OTH Regensburg – Technical University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and Virumaa College of Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia serving as international partners.

Key activities under the project include developing the curriculum, enhancing the professional competencies of university academic staff, strengthening laboratory facilities and introducing new teaching resources. The initiative will also provide opportunities for Sri Lankan universities to gain international exposure through training programmes and industry study visits in Europe.

The proposed degree programme will cover a wide range of subjects, including hydrogen production, storage and transportation, fuel cell technologies, and the integration of hydrogen into renewable energy systems. It will also address hydrogen safety, environmental assessment, technical and economic analysis, as well as policy and regulatory frameworks.

Aligned with the priorities of Sri Lanka’s National Hydrogen Roadmap, the programme is expected to help explore opportunities in green hydrogen and green ammonia production while contributing to the country’s energy security. It will also examine the technical, economic and environmental potential of harnessing Sri Lanka’s renewable energy resources for the development of the hydrogen sector.

The project will also establish a National Hydrogen Forum to bring together universities, industry representatives, government institutions and civil society. The forum will provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, discussion and collaboration, while promoting greater awareness of hydrogen technologies and strengthening cooperation at the national level.

The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for Sri Lankan youth to pursue internationally oriented postgraduate education without having to leave the country. It will also equip future professionals with the knowledge, research capabilities and practical experience required by the evolving energy sector. Through the collaboration of four local universities, students will have the opportunity to benefit from a wider range of academic, research and laboratory facilities.

Through the GREEN-HET project, Sri Lanka aims to strengthen its educational and research capabilities in green hydrogen technologies and develop a skilled workforce equipped to meet the demands of the country’s future energy sector.