GRA 8502 Energy & Society (2020/2021)
GRA 8502 Energy & Society (2020/2021)
This course is part of the Executive Master of Management in Energy in cooperation with BI Norwegian Business School and IFP School.
It is now widely recognized in business, media, government and civil society that companies should aim beyond short-term profit towards a broader goal of long-term sustainable value creation. Given its scale and scope of operation, these expectations strongly apply to energy industry.
The risk of failing to align business with societal expectations is well-illustrated through many environmental, social and governance scandals in energy industry. The purpose of sustainability- engagement, however, is not only to reduce risk; when appropriately deployed, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability provide opportunities to improve day-to-day business, develop a competitive advantage, and strengthen reputation and brand.
The course addresses the core CSR and sustainability issues that face energy industry today. It provides tools to approach them and methods to align sustainability considerations with overall business strategy. Some of the issues that will be addressed are climate and environment, human rights, ethics, corruption, supplier relations, community involvement, relevant international laws and regulations, interaction with stakeholders (e.g. government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media), as well as reputation and branding.
Acquired Knowledge
This course is designed to provide:
- basic knowledge of the CSR and sustainability concepts from different perspectives, with a particular focus on energy industry;
- insights into stakeholder theory and its applications in securing social license to operate by building trust and partnering with communities;
- knowledge of relevant tools such as UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, laws and regulations, national and international, to further sustainable development in energy industry;
- insights into partnered governance arrangements - such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative - where industry and government work together towards transparency and good governance;
- knowledge of basic business ethics and how to implement it in practical management;
- insights into how sustainability issues may play out in the media and other public arenas, and affect reputation brand value;
- insights into approaches to turning CSR and sustainability into a value driver;
- Given its salience for energy industry, particular emphasis will be given to familiarize the students with the essentials of climate change, and its strategic implications.
Skills developed upon completion of the course include the abilities to:
- to analyse and meet core sustainability challenges in energy industry;
- develop a strategy, work plan, implementation, report and evaluation of sustainability and CSR in energy industry;
- identify profitable ideas for sustainability-based innovation and value creation;
- address reputation and branding in energy industry from a CSR perspective;
- forge a cooperative dialogue with different stakeholders (including employees, suppliers customers, governments, media and NGOs);
- design a communication plan how to convey the good and bad news internally and in media.
- CSR and Sustainability
- Stakeholder Theory and Its Applications
- Tools To Further Sustainable Development In Energy Industry
- Partnered Governance Arrangements
- Basic Business Ethics
- Sustainability Issues In The Media And Other Public Arenas
- Turning CSR and Sustainability Into a Value Driver
1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours.
Sessions include lectures, seminars and group work.
Attendance to all sessions in the course is compulsory. If you have to miss part(s) of the course you must ask in advance for leave of absence. More than 25% absence in a course will require retaking the entire course. It's the student's own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on the course homepage/ It's learning or other course materials.
Specific information regarding student evaluation beyond the information given in the course description will be provided in class.
The course is a part of a full Executive Master of Management in Energy (EMME) and examination in all courses must be passed in order to obtain a certificate.
Granted admission to the Executive Master of Management in Energy programme.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 60 Grouping: Individual Duration: 30 Day(s) Comment: The students are evaluated through an individual 30 days course paper, counting 60% of the final grade. Exam code: GRA 85021 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Class participation Weight: 40 Grouping: Individual Comment: The students are evaluated through class participation, counting 40% of the final grade. Exam code: GRA 85021 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 40 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 95 Hour(s) |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 135 hours.