Global Energy Transition in a Fossil World

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This course focuses on the societal and political sides of energy transition, whilst taking into account the physical and technical limitations of the energy system, as well as the global boundaries in which we operate.

Course description

In December 2023, at COP28 in the UAE, the world agreed that we need to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Does this truly signal the ‘beginning of the end’ for the fossil fuel era? After all, meeting the Paris climate goals remains far from a done deal. While the need for a global transition to a low-carbon energy system is contested by few, opinions on what this means in practice and how to get there vary between mainly technical and engineering interventions to radical societal change.

This course focuses on the societal and political sides of the energy transition, whilst taking into account the physical and technical limitations of the energy system, as well as the global boundaries in which we operate. It will give you a broad overview of the global energy transition’s needs, its challenges and solutions, and the trade-offs generated by different (policy) options. It will challenge you to critically assess your own preferred solutions – including their main advantages and disadvantages. The course will further introduce you to the leading theories, concepts, proposed solutions, and current governance efforts in the energy transition. You will study challenges and opportunities at a global level, as well as regional, national, and local approaches in the Netherlands and beyond.

Finally, this course will feature guest speakers from diverse backgrounds, offering varied perspectives on the global energy transition. Excursions provide practical insights into the challenges and opportunities of moving away from fossil fuels. By incorporating these external voices and real-world experiences, the course aims to enrich critical analysis, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues involved in transitioning to a low-carbon energy system. Additionally, the course offers workshops in academic writing and presentation skills.

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Summer courses

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Fees and scholarships

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How to apply

Application and admission details

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Course level

Master / Advanced / PhD

Credits

3 ECTS

Contact hours

Language

English

Tuition fee

€735 - €1310

Learning objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the main concepts and theories in energy transition research and be able to put them into the wider context of global sustainable development;
- Recognise what has been achieved on the road of the energy transition so far;
- Grasp the most critical challenges and opportunities for the future of the energy transition;
- Critically assess their own preferred solutions for the energy transition, including the main advantages and disadvantages;
- Share practical insights into the ‘transition on the ground’ through excursions and guest lectures from experts with diverse backgrounds.
Student testimonials

Trond Furenes, Norway
"I had a great learning experience during this course. It was a perfect add-on to my 10-years old MBA, and I gained a lot of new insight about the global energy situation and the transition to a clean electrification. It was a surprisingly positive aspect with the course that the participants were from different countries from all over the world, with different academic and professional backgrounds. Inspiring lecturers - highly recommended course for gaining new insight in the energy world and also for getting to know more great people."
Raoul Rutter, Austria
“Coming from a science background, the course gave me an essential insight into the political, economic and psychological aspects of the energy transition, both through lessons from a wide variety of experts in the field, and from lively debates with my fellow classmates. I could not recommend this summer course more!”
Huanyu Li, China
“The knowledge which I got is much more than what I expected before I came. Technology, Economics, and Politics, all of them are covered in just two weeks program - unbelievable but true. This summer school course I do recommend not only just because of amazing excursions but also the international and diversity class. In the summer of 2019, there are totally 13 students but from 12 different countries from 19 to 73 years old in my class. We shared our opinions from different experiences and perspectives in almost every courses.”
Roberto De Carvalho, Brazil
‘’Revealing strong student-centred teaching trend and displaying an excellent atmosphere for cultural and international exchange, 'VU University Amsterdam' is high-quality. It was chosen last year as the best in Amsterdam by students and was awarded the 2016 International Student Excellent Satisfaction Award. Professors are nice, very helpful and patient. I would recommend attending the Summer School.’’
Ana Morgado, Portugal
“I found the course extremely engaging and inspiring. It was remarkably well structured, covering the most pressing topics, challenges and dilemmas, giving voice to different and prominent actors in Energy Transitions, and promoting a critical analysis through exciting discussions so that we could get a clear insight of our preferred path towards ET. The excursions were an important plus, where we could see the reality of what was learned and discussed in the classroom.”
Andrea Mogo, Mexico
“During the curse I learned how to address the challenges of the energy transition from a geopolitical, economical, and technical view. It made me realize that this transition is not only about big actors such as corporations or governments, but also about neighbours creating solar panel cooperatives and NGOs making lawsuits. I recommend this course not only for the content itself, but also for all the things you can learn from the different nationalities present in the classroom.”
Linda Vettanen, Finland
“The course was information-packed and inspirational with many top notch guest speakers and different angles to energy transition. After the course I feel I have a better understanding of the different players in the energy sector, energy policy as well as the scale and magnitude of change needed to meet the climate targets. All of this is vital for a journalist today.”
About the course coordinators

Ana Cassanti is a Lecturer in Sustainability at the Institute for Environmental Studies and a Diversity and Inclusion trainer using the Mixed Classroom Method at the Center for Teaching and Learning, both at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She has a Bachelor's in Environmental Engineering from the São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil and a Master's in Energy and Environmental Sciences from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Her main experiences are in teaching, research, and developing educational programmes in Brazil, the Netherlands, and other countries in the Global South. At the moment she also works on several projects related to diversity and inclusion in research, teaching, and workplace/management.
Dr. Mathieu Blondeel is an Assistant Professor of Global Energy Politics in the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at the VU Amsterdam. Previously, he obtained a PhD in International Relations at Ghent University (Belgium) and was a postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Warwick Business School (UK). He has extensive research and teaching experience in matters at the intersection of global energy and climate politics. He is an international expert in the geopolitics of the energy transition and has studied the role of the Oil & Gas industry in global climate and energy policy extensively. In addition to his academic work, he has consulted for policy-oriented organisations and think tanks, such as the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS). Mathieu is also regularly invited in (specialised) global media as a commentator on current events in the field of energy and climate.
Course syllabus

Download here the preliminary course syllabus for summer 2024.
^{*Please note that this is a preliminary syllabus and that it still might be subject to change.}