Governing Energy Transitions (MEE210)

This course centers on energy and environmental governance in different locations around the world. Students develop an understanding of how societies are affected and respond to ecological crises in different ways. The course introduces perspectives that highlight the diverse contexts between a) the global North and South regarding environmental issues, and b) social, political, and economic context and conditions.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

MEE210

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

The environmental problems we face today are one of the greatest collective threats that humanity has faced to date. Yet, the difficulty of successfully engaging and reconciling these problems require nuanced understandings of the complex conditions for change.

Environmental problems and impacts stretch far beyond fossil-fuel production and consumption, to entail food production, water procurement and storage, single-use products, material conditions, pollution and waste management linked to resource extraction, and renewable energy production alike.

In this course, we will discuss and problematise various strategies and challenges associated with energy transitions to reach climate and sustainable development goals. Students learn more about how diverging societal and political systems, structures, institutions, groups, and geographies, affect and are affected by such strategies and challenges in different ways. The course equips students with theoretical and analytical approaches to analyse various forms of energy governance.

This course deals with issues such as the interdependence of energy production and environmental impac; policy implementation across geographic and socio-economic contexts; similarities and dissimilarities between different environmental and political contexts, actors, and institutions.

Learning outcome

Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired the following knowledge, skills, and general competencies:

Knowledge

Students will have:

  • knoweldge of central theories and concepts related to energy governance, and how they can be applied.
  • knowledge of the varying conditions for energy governance, including environmental impacts, resource distribution, geographical aspects, and socio-political systems.
  • knowledge of the various challenges and strategies related to energy governance and environmental impacts across the globe.

Skills

Students will be able to:

  • apply and discuss central theories and concepts related to energy governance.
  • identify and assess connections between challenges and strategies related to energy governance and environmental impacts.

General competencies

Students will be able to:

  • use their acquired skills and knowledges to discuss and analyse issues related to energy governance.
  • contribute to furthering strategies for a sustainable society and contribute to a cooperative learning environment.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Recommended prerequisites

MEE100 Societal Transition and Transformation - Energy and Climate Change
MEE100 Societal Transition and Transformation - Energy and Climate Change

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Oral exam 1/1 Letter grades

Oral exam: In the oral examination, the student is given one or more questions to be answered orally as a presentation or as a dialogue with the examiner. The student is given time to prepare for the exam but is expected to be ready to answer supplemental questions as well. Information about the exact time and place and conduct will be announced on Studentweb/TimeEdit/Canvas no later than one week before the exam.Aids: Handwritten aids are allowed.

Coursework requirements

Written assignment

In order to qualify for the exam, students must pass a mandatory assignment to be carried out in groups of 3-5 students, resulting in a written submission.

All information will be given in Canvas.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Morten Ryen Loe

Course coordinator:

Thomas Michael Sattich

Course coordinator:

Liv Sunnercrantz

Course coordinator:

Liv Sunnercrantz

Head of Department:

Oluf Langhelle

Course coordinator:

Oluf Langhelle

Method of work

This course applies a knowledge co-production approach and strives to teach students how to teach themselves. Developing learning habits in a collaborative learning environment is a central part of the course. Students are asked to cooperate in designing their own procedures to explore and assess complex problems related to the task of governing energy transitions. The course coordinator will facilitate students’ engagement with the course curriculum. Students are expected to have read the relevant course literature ahead of each session.

Open for

The course is open to students, ordinary and exchange, enrolled in following faculties at UiS:
Faculty of Social Science
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty of Arts and Education

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto