The Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy is the educational platform of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance. We offer specialised courses on sustainability good practice for the hydropower sector, built around the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. Through our training, you will build practical knowledge in environmental and social impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, biodiversity management, resettlement planning and other key issues facing hydropower projects.

By enrolling in our courses, you will:

• ✓Gain practical knowledge of internationally recognised sustainability standard.
• ✓Learn from experienced trainers and industry leaders.
• ✓Improve your capacity to implement best practices in hydropower development.
• ✓Enhance your career prospects with a certificate of completion recognised by the global hydropower community.

Yes, we offer tailored training courses for organisations to address specific learning objectives, project requirements or regional priorities. For example, this can include a training for company Executives and Board of Directors, government officials and policy makers, hydropower project teams and financial institutions. Contact us at [email protected] and we can discuss your training needs.

Our courses are open to professionals with all levels of experience in hydropower, including project developers, engineers, environmental and social specialists, government officials, consultants, and other hydropower stakeholders. No prior knowledge is required for our courses, making them accessible to anyone interested in sustainable hydropower.

The decision on which course is right for you will often depend on the organisation you work for and your career path.

Certified User Learning Pathway is designed as a starting point in your learning journey, helping you understand the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), the assessment process, and its requirements. At the end of this pathway, you will be able to undertake unofficial assessments within your organisation.

HSS Environmental and Social Specialisations go deeper into specific topics within the HSS. These are designed for those who want to build focused expertise in a particular ESG area.

Accredited Assessor training, for advanced learners, is delivered in person on an on-demand basis. It enables you to provide commercial services using the HSS and conduct official assessments for external organisations.

If you need help deciding which course is best for you, please contact our training team at [email protected].

We offer three flexible learning formats to suit different needs and learning preferences. The In-person Classroom format involves interactive, face-to-face learning at your company offices, provided upon request to fit your team's schedule. The Virtual Classroom format is live, instructor-led training sessions tailored provided upon request for company staff across the globe. The eLearning include self-paced online courses with high-quality video lessons, activities, and downloadable resources designed to fit your schedule and learning style.

The Certified User (CU) pathway consists of three courses: HSS Fundamentals, HSS Assessment Planning, and Applying the HSS in Practice, followed by the Certified User exam. All four steps are required including passing the exam to earn you the HSS Certified User title. The Certified User Learning Pathway is the foundation and prerequisite for the HSS Environmental and Social Specialisations. Completing Certified User first ensures you have the grounding in the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and assessment process needed to succeed in the more focused specialisation courses.

We provide comprehensive support to ensure your learning experience is smooth and enriching. Our courses are managed by a dedicated coordinator who is available to answer administrative questions and provide guidance throughout the program.

You can connect with peers and instructors through interactive discussion forums, where you can ask questions, clarify course materials or share your own insights and ideas. For technical issues, our support team is available via email to assist with login problems, platform navigation, or other concerns. Additionally, you'll have access to a library of resources, including downloadable materials, video recordings, activities and quizzes, to support your learning journey. We are here to help you succeed every step of the way.

Yes, participants who successfully complete a course will receive a digital certificate of completion provided by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance. These certificates can be used for professional development and may contribute to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.

Taking and passing the exams is required on all three learning pathways to earn the title and certificate. If you don't pass an exam on your first attempt, you can retake the exam. Simply email [email protected] and we will send you a link to another exam. You only need to retake the exam itself, not the underlying courses.

To sign up, visit our Course Catalogue to select your desired course, then click the "purchase this course" button. Fill in the registration information and payment card details. If you have received a discount code, please make sure to input the coupon code prior to payment.

If your 1-year access period ends before you've completed a course, you'll need to purchase renewed access to continue. Contact us if you're close to finishing and need a short extension.

Once you pass all required courses and the exam, your HSS Certified User, Environmental Specialist, or Social Specialist title is valid for 5 years from the date your exam is passed and your certificate is issued. This is separate from course access (1 year), an expired course access period does not affect a title you've already earned.

If a new course is added to the Environmental Specialist or Social Specialist pathway, you'll need to complete the new course and pass the updated exam to retain your title even if you're still within your original 5-year validity period. You'll have 6 months from the new course's release date to do this. If you don't complete it within that window, your existing certificate and title are no longer valid. You'll pay the same price-difference rate as any other bundle upgrade — the difference between what you originally paid and the current bundle price.

Each course's 1-year access period runs from its own purchase/enrolment date. Adding a course to a bundle doesn't reset the clock on courses you already own, those keep their original expiry, and the new course starts its own separate 1-year period.

Yes. The new course and updated exam will restart your 5-year validity date of the title and you will get an updated certificate with a new 5-year validity. After 5 years, you're encouraged to retake the relevant courses and re-sit the exam to keep your title current, since this period aligns with updates to the Hydropower Sustainability Standard — course content is likely to be refreshed by then.

Course fees vary, depending on what type of training and delivery method you choose and whether you are taking the training as an individual or as part of your organisation. For more information on course fees, visit our Course Catalogue and select your desired course for further information.

Yes, we offer discounts for full time students, members of academia, individuals from developing or least developing countries and on referrals. We also offer discounts for large groups and members of the HS Council and the International Hydropower Association. For more information visit courses discounts and bundles.

If you’re unable to complete a payment through the platform, we can arrange alternative methods such as bank transfers or we can send you a link to pay by credit card (5% processing fee will be applied). Please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

Yes we can provide an invoice for payment. Please contact us at [email protected] with:

• name of the course you would like to take
• your full name, organisation and job title
• banking information including tax ID/VAT/reg number

We will then send you an invoice for payment.

Yes, after completing your payment, a receipt will be automatically emailed to you. If you don’t receive it, contact us at [email protected] to receive a copy.

Newly added courses are not automatically included in a bundle you've already purchased. To add one, you can either purchase it individually at its standalone price, or upgrade to a newly-updated full bundle for the difference between what you originally paid and the new bundle's list price. Contact us on [email protected] and we can advise the most cost-effective option for your situation.

Individual courses and bundles give learners access to specific courses for 1 year. Organisational subscriptions are an annual, seat-based plan (Basic, Advanced or Premium) giving your organisation ongoing access to our full course library including the CU pathway and current Specialisations for a set number of staff, plus added support depending on tier. See our Organisational subscriptions page [hyperlink] for full plan comparisons.

If you need to add staff beyond your plan's limit, you can upgrade to the next tier or purchase additional seats. If a team member leaves your organisation, contact us to reassign their seat to someone new. Contact our training team at [email protected] discuss the best option for your team's size and turnover.