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Developing countries can learn about lighting education from the experiences of developed countries, says Anil Valia.

An internationally known lighting designer who hails from India, Valia has been teaching about light and lighting for the past 30 years.

Among the findings of his inquiry are:

In Bangladesh, illumination principles are taught in the physics course in electrical engineering at the Islamic Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhaka.
In Sri Lanka, the students of architecture at the undergraduate level are provided with a comprehensive education on the science and art of lighting.
In countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan, there is no illumination engineering subject in any of the universities.
However, specifiers, designers and managers in all countries receive practical lighting education through seminars and workshops organized by professional associations like the Illuminating Society of Pakistan, the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association, and so on.
Among his recommendations for developing countries:

Autonomous architectural and engineering colleges can take the lead by teaching about lighting for three to six credits upon diploma or degree course.
Professional associations can conduct certificate in lighting courses, as well as short-term and modular courses as continuing lighting education.
Evening and weekend classes can be offered by colleges and institutions interested in creating a part-time certificate in lighting courses and lighting diploma course.
A lighting institute that includes a laboratory and application center, where teachers could be trained, should be established in each developing country.
Certification similar to that of the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) should be established.
To read Valia's white paper in its entirety, click here.

Valia is the author of "Designing with Light" and is one of the founding members of the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers, and most recently its ex-vice president. To read more about him, click here.