Graduate Degree Programs in Energy Management

In framework of Energy Capacity Initiative’s Higher Education Grants Program, four universities were awarded grants for establishing master’s degree educational programs. Three of these universities have already identified timeframes of launching appropriate modules/programs and one of them has already started classes.  All four universities are equipped with books and material for appropriate programs and have started needs assessment of information and resources for curriculum development.
ECI consultant - Professor Hameed Nezhad has been regularly meeting education grants recipients in order to assess program development progress, discuss program design and implementation, as well as student recruitment and admission issues.

Project “Establishing Power Industry Technology and Management Master’s Degree Program” proposed by Akaki Tsereteli State University aims to prepare high-skilled specialists for country’s Energy Sector with respective managerial and professional knowledge through developing and implementing new Master’s degree program.
Master’s Program envisages more subjects to be offered to university students and more comprehensive works of each graduate student on their Master’s thesis.  In comparison with existing master’s program, the new Master’s program will include internship opportunities for students in energy sector companies.

The goal of “Concentration in Energy Economics”by ISET is to provide a pool of well-trained economists for the energy sector in Georgia and Caucasus region.
The project anticipates bringing international academic and policy expertise. The project will contribute to public debate on energy policy, natural resources and environment.  ISET research findings and policy recommendations will be used to inform regional and international policymakers.
The program will concentrate on research addressing energy, natural resources and environmental topics relevant for the region.

Purpose of Grigol Robakidze University “Energy Management Concentration” is to introduce students to fundamental concepts and knowledge pertaining to energy management supporting preparation of qualified specialists on the bases of interdisciplinary method of education.
This program is planning to offer course providing basic knowledge and to develop managerial decision making skills. Program includes theoretical, research and simulation activities. After completing the program, students will be able to understand fundamental methods needed to perform basic economic evolutions and life cycle cost assessments, also have knowledge of main renewable energy sources, determine power requirements and efficiency of renewable energy. 

Programme “Energy Demand Side Management” implemented by Georgian Technical University provides students with knowledge in energy consumption management, generation and transmission technologies and develops quantitative evaluation skills to solve complex problems independently and in an original way.

Program will allow students to acquire skills in energy demand side management using effective, modern information technologies.

Higher Education Programs to supply a Professional Workforce for the Energy Sector

The Energy Capacity Initiative (ECI) Higher Education Grants Program is assisting in the development of graduate-level energy education programs.

This Grants Program was designed to support the higher education institutions in Georgia to develop sustainable graduate-level energy programs (Master’s Degree programs, Concentrations, etc.) which would meet the needs of Georgia’s energy sector. The program was available for public and private accredited universities that already have graduate degree programs.

From the very beginning ECI received a solid support from the Ministry of Education for ECI’s decision on establishing energy sector higher education programs and a number of thoughtful suggestions were offered on its successful implementation.

Prior to the program launch, ECI conducted energy sector skills gap analysis survey, objective of which was to identify the needs of professional workforce available for the energy sector and to consider these findings in “future” energy focused graduate programs offered by the universities. The analysis included the scale of demand for the supply of professionals, as well as the skills, qualifications and work conditions needed for these occupations. Series of interviews were scheduled and questionnaires distributed among NGOs, Think Thanks, energy companies and students. Finally, ECI drafted its approach to the energy sector skills gap analysis and presented the results.

ECI received considerable interest in participation in the local higher education program development from several Georgian Universities. ECI conducted a brainstorming session to show them the preliminary results of gap analysis and work in understanding expectation for the development of energy sector graduate programs. The session noticeably assisted local universities in realizing the human capacity needs of the energy sector and identifying challenges and ways for innovative approaches in higher education programs.

Universities submitted proposals clearly demonstrating how they meet Georgia’s energy sector needs in the short, medium and long-terms. Using the data provided by the surveys, the proposed curriculums verified how they will be sustainable beyond the grant period.

After careful consideration, four grantee universities were designated and ECI awarded four universities with a total amount of 341,000 USD.

1. Georgian Technical University to develop a Concentration in Energy Management for their existing graduate programs in engineering disciplines.
2. International School of Economics (ISET) at Tbilisi State University (TSU) to develop a Concentration in Energy Economics for their existing graduate program in economics.
3.  Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi to develop a new Master’s degree program in Power Industry Technology and Management.
4.  Grigol Robakidze University (a private university) to develop a Concentration in Energy Management for their existing MBA program.