The first UN course to train women refrigeration trainers from Asia

Eleven female professionals from seven Asian countries took part in Casale Monferrato in the first international “Train-the-Trainers” course entirely dedicated to women working in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. The initiative, promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and hosted by ATF-Associazione dei Tecnici Italiani del Freddo at Centro Studi Galileo, represents a significant step forward both for the global dissemination of refrigeration expertise and for increasing female participation in the industry.

The program took place in May and involved teachers and trainers from Bangladesh, the Maldives, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, and Nepal. Participants included four professionals from Bangladesh, two from China, two from Mongolia, and one representative each from the Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal. The international importance of the initiative was further highlighted by the participation of Sonja Wagner, UNEP Programme Management Officer. The final certificate ceremony was held at the Municipality of Casale Monferrato.

Strategic training for the sector’s transition

Today, evolving regulations, the gradual phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons, the introduction of alternative refrigerants, and stricter safety requirements are imposing new professional standards. In this context, preparing qualified trainers is essential to developing certification systems aligned with international regulatory frameworks.

The five-day program addressed technical, regulatory, and methodological aspects related to refrigeration and air conditioning.

The first day focused on the relationship between certification, environmental responsibility, and sector regulation, with in-depth discussions on integrating climate goals, energy efficiency, and professional qualification.

Significant attention was devoted to alternative and low-environmental-impact refrigerants, including HFOs, hydrocarbons, CO₂, and ammonia, as well as best practices for installation and piping: leak-tight system design, brazing, nitrogen pressure testing, vacuum procedures, insulation checks, and post-installation inspections.

The second day had a more operational focus, concentrating on the safe handling of flammable refrigerants such as R290 and R600a, emerging technologies, and maintenance and diagnostic procedures. Participants carried out practical exercises on compressors, condensers, evaporators, and expansion devices, along with activities dedicated to leak detection, refrigerant recovery, and correct charging and evacuation procedures.

In the following days, discussions focused on the development of national certification systems, with particular attention to occupational standards, assessment methodologies, and evaluation criteria based on technical skills and operational safety. The course also addressed the educational aspects of the Train-the-Trainers model, including simulations, role-playing, and peer review activities aimed at training adult technicians already active in the RAC sector.

The program concluded with a final theoretical and practical examination designed to verify the participants’ ability to transfer knowledge and contribute to certification processes in their respective countries.

The experience in Casale Monferrato, characterized by the exclusive presence of women participants, is part of the broader UNEP framework supporting the sustainable transition of the sector, with the goal of promoting increasingly harmonized training and certification programs worldwide.

The world of industrial refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, logistics, freezing technology, and cryogenics will meet again at REFRIGERA, the international event for the sector, to be held at BolognaFiere from November 10 to 12, 2027.

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