European Master in Sustainable Energy System Management

Structure

The course is divided into three sections. In the first semester (September/October to January), students acquire a solid foundation in systems management. In the second semester (February to June), they specialize in a chosen topic at a different university, and at the end of the course, students complete a six-month practical or research project. The entire program is run on a modular basis with credits awarded for passing each section and the successful completion of the project. A total of 90 ECTS credits (30 for each section of the course) are required with a satisfactory level of achievement in all the sections to obtain the European Master's degree.

The course’s three sections

The core provides a solid foundation in systems management with legal, environmental, economic, social, and technical aspects. Theoretical courses which also examine the socioeconomic issues surrounding the deployment of these technologies are supported by laboratory workshops. The studies for the core will be done in English.

The Core providers are

• Hanze UAS, The Netherlands
• Limerick Institute of Technology, Ireland

During the core semester, students will learn about these subjects:

• Systems management with legal, environmental, economic, social, and technical aspects
• System integration and planning
• Modeling
• Scenario development
• Strategic decision-making
• Communication

30 ECTS credits will be awarded for passing the core semester following harmonized learning outcomes.

A specialization focused on a particular topic selected from system innovation management or sustainable energy management. The specializations are all taught in English.

Participating universities are willing to provide the above-mentioned specializations. However, their effective realization will depend on the final number of students who register. Normally, this decision is taken at the end of July. Students whose specialization is canceled will be offered a suitable alternative.

The specialization sections run from February to the end of May or June depending on the specialization. The student specializes in one of the following:

1. System Innovation Management – taught at Hanze UAS (NL)
2. Sustainable Energy and ICT – taught at Howest (Belgium)
3. Sustainable Energy Management – taught at the University of Zaragoza (Spain)

Upon completion of the specialization, the student gains practical or research experience through a project undertaken in an industry, a research laboratory, or at the university. A wide variety of projects can be proposed and it gives flexibility to the student and the project provider to define the project. The student is welcome to propose his/her own project. EUREC and the course directors continuously contact renewable energy companies throughout the year to encourage them to propose a student project. Yet, students should not expect to get a list of projects to choose from. Students are expected to look for companies or research centers wishing to offer them a project individually. A qualified person from the specialization University will give students advice about how to proceed in finding the best project to suit their qualifications and expectations.

The student can also discuss directly with the Project Provider for the practical arrangements (allowance, accommodation, etc.). When a student proposes his or her own project it must be validated by the core and specialization providers before being accepted. Students are advised to ask the project host in order to seek insurance for them while working on the host company’s premises.

During the project, the student progress is monitored by:

• A professor from the Core provider;
• A professor from the Specialization provider;
• A professional tutor from the Project provider.

The project is presented in Brussels, the student is also required to write a master thesis. The project is marked by the core provider (the university where the student studied in the first semester

The aim of the European Master in Sustainable Energy System Management is to provide postgraduate students with the skills required for employment in the Sustainable Energy industry. Students will specialize in business case analysis, modeling, project design, and implementation. As a result of the foreign contact, the course requires, our students will have the international outlook essential to the industry HR needs.

By structuring the course in three sections, students are guaranteed to spend time in at least two different EU countries and make contact with a wide range of European institutes and companies involved in the sustainable energy sector. The participating universities are all well-established in training and the education sector as well as being recognized at an international level for their work in the field of sustainable energy system management.