Proposing a master’s programme on participatory integrated assessment of energy systems to promote energy access and energy efficiency in Southern Africa
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 18 December 2017
Issue publication date: 23 February 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a new master’s programme for promoting energy access and energy efficiency in Southern Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
A transdisciplinary approach called “participatory integrated assessment of energy systems” (PARTICIPIA) was used for the development of the curriculum. This approach is based on the two emerging fields of “multi-scale integrated assessment” and “science for governance”, which bring innovative concepts and methods.
Findings
The application of the PARTICIPIA methodology to three case studies reveals that the proposed transdisciplinary approach could support energy and development policies in the region. The implementation of the PARTICIPIA curriculum in three higher education institutions reveals its ability to respond to the needs of specific contexts and its connection with existing higher education programmes.
Practical implications
Considering energy issues from a transdisciplinary approach in higher education is absolutely critical because such a holistic view cannot be achieved through engineering curricula. Deliberate and greater efforts should be made to integrate methods from “multi-scale integrated assessment” and “science for governance” in higher education curricula to train a new breed of modern-day energy planners in charge of coming up with solutions that are shared by all relevant stakeholders.
Originality/value
This paper presents an innovative higher education curriculum in terms of the attention given to energy access and energy efficiency that affect the southern Africa region and the nature of the methodology adopted to face these issues.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research leading to these results was supported by the project “PARTICIPIA - Participatory Integrated Assessment of Energy Systems to Promote Energy Access and Efficiency” funded under the ACP-EU Cooperation Programme in Higher Education (EDULINK); a Programme of the ACP Group of States, with the financial assistance of the European Union, under grant agreement No. DCI-AFS/2013/320-333. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the persons mentioned, the ACP Group of States or the European Union.
Citation
Kiravu, C., Diaz-Maurin, F., Giampietro, M., Brent, A.C., Bukkens, S.G.F., Chiguvare, Z., Gasennelwe-Jeffrey, M.A., Gope, G., Kovacic, Z., Magole, L., Musango, J.K., Ruiz-Rivas Hernando, U., Smit, S., Vázquez Barquero, A. and Yunta Mezquita, F. (2018), "Proposing a master’s programme on participatory integrated assessment of energy systems to promote energy access and energy efficiency in Southern Africa", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 622-641. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-04-2017-0048
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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