A new milestone has been set in distance learning for the RAC field. A full training and assessment session on “F-Gases: Advanced Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Best Practices” was carried out successfully and thoroughly online thanks to international cooperation between the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians (
www.associazioneatf.org - ATF) and the Government of Qatar under a UN Environment OzonAction Programme project. Due to global lockdown and social distancing measures imposed to contrast the Coronavirus outbreak, the event took place from March 30th until April 1st 2020 partly online and partly inside the Qatar University’s premises: thanks for the outstanding support and collaboration provided by the Qatari University and National Ozone Unit - with continuous support by UNEP - the Italian ATF and Centro Studi Galileo were able to deliver such a training session (
video) without boarding on any airplanes.
For the first time ever CSG Expert Trainer Mr Gianfranco Cattabriga, armed with headphones and laptop, taught five Qatari expert trainers online at over 5,000 km apart. Thanks to more than 45 years of experience and successful activity in the HVAC&R field, the Italian Centro Studi Galileo and Association of Refrigeration Technicians have once again shown how to flexibly adapt to new challenges, while always providing top-quality services: this is proven by 10 distance learning classes already delivered in March 2020, including full F-Gas assessment sessions that can be held remotely online, according to recently issued Italian rules - provided both parties are supplied with laptop, webcam and all the necessary equipment.
The five Qatari trainees have played a key role in this event, as they will be the first F-Gas trainers and assessors for the Gulf country: showing a sharp expertise and unique engagement, they now learned how to deliver first-hand such a course for future RAC Technicians, according to the national certification scheme. Said scheme is currently under development in tight collaboration between the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) of Qatar and the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians: after one successful
workshop (held on March 8-9, 2020) that involved also national stakeholders, few orientation sessions followed and led up to the first ever remote training and certification session for F-gases technologies.
Whereas this session took place thanks to the unique commitment shown by all parties involved, a special mention goes to Professor Dr Saud Abdul Ghani (also known as Dr. Cool), the mechanical engineer responsible for the air-conditioning technology installed for the 2022 World Cup (source: The Guardian). Professor Ghani is now the lead Trainer and Assessor for the State of Qatar, after being officially certified under EU 517/2014 by the Italian ATF, in collaboration with Centro Studi Galileo. CSG had after already successfully trained and certified the first F-Gas Trainers for Bahrain and Kuwait back in 2018, while also providing the establishment and implementation of their national certification schemes.
Due to the current circumstances set by the Coronavirus pandemic, the world seems to have suddenly come to a standstill; while quietly waiting for safer and better times, workers around the globe have not stopped their activity. This is true for all sectors, including the HVAC&R one, where this situation was transformed into an opportunity to hold the first ever remote Train-the-Trainers session. In this moment, when about half of the world’s population is safe at home in lockdown, everyone has become aware of the crucial role that the HVAC&R industry plays; in this unique context, the certification newly obtained by the first Trainers for the State of Qatar has even gained a double pioneering value.
