Academic management

In the beginning of the third term of the master program, this subject will aim to introduce the students into the problems of development that technologies and, in particular, electric power systems solve, or generate. For such purpose, first, we will lay out the basis of cooperation for development and its links with technology and energy; then, some real projects of rural electrification in poor countries will be shown. The methodology, both practical and participatory, is coherent with a continuous evaluation, without final exams.

There are no special requirements applied to this subject because it belongs to the third term, therefore the students will already have an in-depth technological knowledge to attend it. In fact, the aim is not to gain a greater depth in this knowledge but to widen their understanding by looking at other perspectives on social consequences of its use, especially on the most disadvantaged population. Therefore, more than previous formation, people who are analytical and have social sensibility as well as technological knowledge are required. 

This subject is related to the basic learning results below, all of them included in the master verification report:

• RA124: Critical sense, respect for the diversity and social focus of the professional activity related to the management of the energy.
• RA125: Comprehension of the links between development and energy sector technologies and businesses.
• RA126: Analysis of concrete cases of basic need dissatisfaction and design of solutions based on electric power management systems.

More specifically, students will be able to acquire a supportive and global vision of the reality, complementing the conventional technical learning with ethical principles that should guide their professional career, which includes skills as follows:

• Analytical sense with respect to the diversity and social focus of the professional activity related to the management of energy.
• Comprehension of the links between development and energy sector technologies and businesses.
• Analysis of concrete cases of basic need dissatisfaction and design of solutions based on electric power management systems.

Topic 1: Development, cooperation and technology.

• Concepts of development
• Cooperation for development: methods and agents
• Technologies for development
• Development project cycle

Topic 2: Electric power systems to promote (or to prevent) development.

• Energy and development
• Renewable energies
• Electric energies in the development
• Electric firms and development

Topic 3: Projects of cooperation for the development with a high component of electric power.

• Off-grid power - electrical energy in rural communities
• Technology transfer
• Management models
• Donors and markets

Topic 4: Practical cases.

• Micro/pico hydropower in various countries for communities not connected to the grid
• Solar PV in tropical countries

Reaching the objectives proposed above needs participatory methods that will take place in seminars combined with the practice based on the proposal of suitable solutions for specific contexts of cooperation for development.

In total there are 15 classroom sessions of 1.5 hours, alternating lectures and seminars devoted to develop practical exercises, and to discuss them .

The following table shows the proposed time schedule according to the ideas above.

Exceptionally, if sanitary conditions require it, non-classroom teaching activities may be included. In that case, the students will be informed of the changes made.

According to the aims and the style of this subject, its evaluation will be practical and continuous. As the program will develop, the students will be asked to present short projects and other practical tasks to be submitted and discussed in the sessions.

Exceptionally, if sanitary conditions require it, non-contact evaluation methods may be included. In that case, the students will be informed of the changes made.

• BP, 2013, Statistical Review of World Energy. www.bp.com/
• DFID (Department For International Development), 2002, Energy for the poor. Underpinning the Millenium Development Goals. www.dfid.gov.uk/
• Engineers Without Borders UK, 2014. Engineering in Development: Pre-departure. Engineers Without Borders UK, London.
• IEA, 2019. World Energy Outlook 2019. International Energy Agency, Paris.
• NORAD, 1999. The Logical Framework Approach (LFA). Handbook for Objectives-Oriented Planning. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Oslo.
• Practical Action (English NGO specialised in technologies for development): http://practicalaction.org
• Practical Action, Poor People's Energy Outlook series. https://policy.practicalaction.org/policy-themes/energy/poor-peoples-energy-outlook:
• Poor People's Energy Outlook 2012: Energy for Earning a Living.
• Poor People's Energy Outlook 2013: Energy for Community Services.
• Poor People's Energy Outlook 2014: Total Energy Access.
• Poor People's Energy Outlook 2016: Poor People's Energy Access Priorities.
• Poor People's Energy Outlook 2017: The Energy Access Financing Gap.
• Poor People's Energy Outlook 2018: Achieving Inclusive Energy Access At Scale.
• SUMANIK-LEARY, J. DELOR M., LITTLE, M., BELLAMY, M., WILLIAMS, A. and WILLIAMSON, S., 2014. Engineering in Development: Energy. Engineers Without Borders UK, London.
• UN-Energy, 2005. The Energy Challenge for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals. UN-Energy.
• UNDP. Annual Reports. https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage.html
• UNDP. Millennium Development Goals & Sustainable Development Goals. http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
• WEA (World Energy Assessment). www.undp.org/energy/activities/wea/
• WILLIAMS, A. and SIMPSON, R., 2009. Pico hydro: reducing the technical risks for rural electrification. Renewable Energy. 34(9), 1986-1991.

Most of these and other resources will be available through the Virtual Campus of the University of Oviedo.