Diploma of Higher Studies on Transition and Global Energy Governance

Degree and recognition

Students who successfully complete the programme are awarded two certifications at the end of the academic year:

• Master in Energy Transition and Global Governance: This is the diploma of CIFE, certifying the successful completion of the academic curriculum and granting 60 ECTS credits at Master level.
• The degree qualification Chargé de Mission en Organisations Européennes et Internationales (Policy Officer in European and International Organisations): This qualification is recognised by the French state as a degree at Master level (level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework EQF).

Overview of the academic year

The first term (October-December) in Nice encompasses classes on the basics of the four energy modules: International Energy Conflicts, Economic Energy Governance and Markets, Clean Energy Transitions in the EU, and Cities and Citizens in the Energy Transition. Each module is complemented by seminars dealing with current energy issues. An academic or professional expert is invited to each event.

For their second term (January-March) students move to Berlin, where workshops are offered for the four modules. Each module organises a half-day workshop with an expert. Students prepare the workshops in group work delivering papers on themes linked to the topic of the seminar (climate negotiations, energy stock exchange, the role of the EU interconnections in the European energy market, the EU funds and the territorial energy policy). To better understand the local energy challenges in the framework of the German Energy Transition Field, visits will also be organised in co-operation with local institutions and companies. Another focus of this term will be put on the methodology classes: one dedicated to research and the Master’s thesis, and the second to project management.

During this term, students will also take a study trip to Brussels, to visit EU institutions and meet experts in the energy field.

In April, students return to Nice. The third term (April-June) aims at deepening their knowledge on the four energy modules. A special focus is given to methodological support for the students’ work on their thesis including individual meetings with the academic supervisors. During this term, a simulation game will enable the participants to test their negotiation skills.

During this term, students will finalise their work on their thesis in close contact with their academic supervisors. The thesis will be delivered in mid-June and defended at the end of June.

Teaching modules

• International Energy Conflicts

This module delivers the theoretical knowledge on the main international energy-related issues and conflicts (resource curse, neo-institutionalism, developmentalism, weak/strong states etc.).
It also provides the participants with concrete examples of the emergence and regulation of energy conflicts worldwide in order to analyse better how they exert pressure on the security and diversification of the energy supply. (8 ECTS)

• Economic Energy Governance and Markets

Economic and market fundamentals are applied to the energy sector in order to understand the current multiple national, regional, and local low carbon energy pathways in the world.
The module examines how the different markets are regulated and how they influence the transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energies. The economic perspective will highlight the role of liberalisation, privatisation and regulation of the sector. (8 ECTS)

• Clean Energy Transitions in the EU

The aim of this module is to highlight the EU priorities and its decision-making process regarding clean energy transition in Europe, thus helping to understand political economy factors that both inhibit and accelerate it. While focusing on how the different EU policies challenge institutional architectures and multilevel governance schemes, the module provides insight into issues currently facing European policymakers such as social acceptance, the sustainability of renewable energies as well as rapid advancement in clean energy technologies. (8 ECTS)

• Cities and Citizens in the Energy Transition

Participants will examine how EU regions and cities and more generally territories develop their own low carbon strategy at the crossroads of many policies (housing, waste management, transport, fuel poverty, environment and energy) and in the framework of a multilevel governance system.
Concrete examples of local and regional strategies will be delivered in order to analyse the levers and obstacles for more decentralisation. (8 ECTS)

• Professional Skills and Methodology

Students will acquire skills in research methodology, energy project management and the elaboration of energy strategies. They will concretely experiment with different methodological tools: first, through the research work for their thesis and second, thanks to the methodological tools of project management. Students will be involved in a simulation in which they will have to decide on the construction of a wind park in a territory. In a negotiation game, participants will have to elaborate a common strategy in the perspective of international energy cooperation. (9 ECTS)

• Thesis

For their Master’s thesis participants will carry out profound research work on an energy issue, chosen and elaborated in regular coordination with their supervisor. The thesis will require the application of the methodological tools which the students have acquired during the programme.
The academic work will involve in-depth desk research, possible interviews with external partners and the writing of a thesis of approximately 17,000 words (15 ECTS). Candidates will defend their thesis in an oral exam. (4 ECTS)

Graduates receive two certifications:

• The Master in Global Energy Transition and Governance. This is the diploma of CIFE as a private institute of higher education, certifying the successful completion of the academic curriculum and granting 60 ECTS at Master level.
• The degree qualification "Policy Officer in European and International organisations" (level 7 EQF), recognised by the French state.

The energy job market offers great potential to the future generation of policy officers in energy development. The job prospects are at the crossroads of public, private, research or non governmental sectors and of different levels of governance, from local to international level.

• Energy analyst
• Energy project manager in public authorities, enterprises, NGOs
• Energy advisor to decision makers at international, EU, national, regional and local level
• Energy policy officer in European and international organisations
• Research fellow in energy development

A one-year programme + optional professional internship (max. 3 months to be completed by 30 September)

• October to December: Nice
• January to March: Berlin
• April to June: Nice