Course syllabus - Policy Instruments, Strategy and Technical Change

Objectives

The overall purpose of the course is to get a deeper understanding of how the government through various instruments creates rules and incentives for efficient energy use and an increased share of renewable energy production. Furthermore, the course aims to provide knowledge of how policy instruments impact on technical and economic aspects can be analyzed, and how the subsequent decisions affect business profitability with respect to, for example energy production. To achieve these objectives, the course will provide a theoretical framework for how the instruments create efficiency in a market economy and how management and controllers can achieve economically profitable business decisions. The course also addresses how companies can work strategically with the changes that are required at the new market conditions and policies.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course students will be able to

• demonstrate an understanding of economic theory for various policy instruments that are in used in various energy markets;
• discuss and analyze how government and industry at national and European level influences the development of a sustainable society;
• describe the impact that policy instruments have on cost-benefit analysis for energy production in the short and long term;
• independently conduct an analysis of how individual policy instruments affect technical and financial decisions related to energy production ;
• have an understanding of how a systematic strategic change implemented on the company ;
• demonstrate that he/she can clearly communicate and present conclusions and methods ;
• demonstrate an ability to holistic, critically, independently and creatively identify, formulate and handle complex issues concerning integrated technical and economic issues.

Course content

The course consists mainly of lectures, seminars and individual analysis tasks in the area of policy instruments for energy, financial, and organizational change management.

Specific requirements

120 credits completed courses in business, economics, science and/or enginnering, including 15 credits at advanced level. Of these, 65 credits must be in business/economics or energy engineering. Qualifying courses that shall have been studied are Perspectives on energy markets 15 credits, International energy systems and Process optimization 7.5 credits, or similar courses. In addition, Swedish course B/Swedish course 2 and English course A/English course 2 are required. In cases where the course is given in english, exemption from the Swedish B/Swedish 2 is given.

Examination

Assignment (INL1), 3 credits, marks 3, 4 or 5
Assignment (INL2), 4 credits, marks 3, 4 or 5
Assignment (INL3), 3 credits, marks 3, 4 or 5

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Grading scale: 5, 4, 3

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

Seminars and project work is compulsory parts of the course.