Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has secured a teaching position at Yale University, one of the leading institutions in the United States. De Ruyter, who stepped down from his role at Eskom earlier this year, will begin his tenure as a visiting senior fellow at the end of this month at Yale’s campuses in New Haven, Connecticut.
De Ruyter’s classes will focus on crucial topics such as renewable energy and the green economy. Notably, his lectures will spotlight Eskom’s Just Energy Transition (JET) programme, at the request of Yale. This programme, initiated during De Ruyter’s tenure, garnered over R150 billion in financing for green energy projects in South Africa.
Also read: Extract from de Ruyter’s Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom
Reflecting on his teaching philosophy, News24 reports that De Ruyter expressed his intention to steer clear of convoluted academic jargon.
He aims to deliver practical and comprehensible insights, mirroring the sentiment of physicist Richard Feynman: ‘If you can’t explain it to your grandmother, you don’t understand it yourself.’
In his classes, De Ruyter will address the imperative of a well-considered energy transition, emphasising the need to provide alternative avenues for workers impacted by changes in the coal industry. He emphasised that the transition is inevitable and that finding constructive solutions, rather than clinging to outdated practices, is the way forward.
De Ruyter’s lectures will span across three schools within Yale University: the School of Management, the Jackson School of Global Affairs and the School of the Environment. His appointment marks a significant step in his continued contribution to shaping sustainable energy practices globally.
Also read:
Embracing sustainable luxury with SOLASynergi renewable energy solutions
