Master of Management in Energy Leadership

Purpose

There is a shortage in the energy sector in South Africa (SA) and across Africa which must be addressed. Many must travel outside Africa to receive training which is very costly. Energy in Africa is increasingly being provided by the private sector, providing dynamism and an extension to energy services which the state-owned utilities are constrained to do. Through the qualification, the institution's Business School (WBS) Energy Leadership Centre (ELC) will equip future leaders to manage the challenges of the burgeoning energy sector which is becoming an increasingly interconnected and interdependent environment.

The purpose of the Master of Management in Energy Leadership is to introduce learners to the growth of the African energy value chain through innovation, transformation, and research.

Upon completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Access, use and manage quantitative and qualitative information in such a way that the learner can interpret and produce insights in a range of energy business management areas.
• Apply conceptual and analytical frameworks of the energy value chain to generate solutions and insights that can address complex and challenging problems in a range of complex organisational internal and external energy management conditions.
• Evaluate the probable consequences of management implementation of energy business solutions and insights generated through the use of energy business-management concepts and frameworks and address the intended and unintended consequences of such interventions.
• Present information and defend substantial insights and solutions to energy management business dilemmas in a range of written and oral modes and genres appropriate to both academic and senior business management audiences.
• Enhance strategic leadership and problem-solving skills and scholarly expertise in energy sector business appropriate to complex and rapidly changing organisational environments.
• Develop ethical and practical managerial leadership and good governance skills including the ability to exercise autonomous judgement about complex organisational and professional issues within an environment of competing values in an energy economy.
• Contribute to the development of ethical standards around energy business practice in specific organisations.

Rationale

The rationale for this qualification stems from the recent wave of technological innovation impacting the energy sector and the need for new skills to assist leaders and future leaders in managing this change and disruption. The qualification will address the skills shortages in the energy sector in Africa and internationally. The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) which has funded the development of this qualification supports this view.

The qualification has been developed with a specific set of parameters and principles to serve as the basis for its considered design logic. These include the following aspects:

• The qualification requires a prospective learner to hold a four-year postgraduate qualification or a four-year undergraduate degree. The majority have a minimum of three to five years of work experience and are ranked within organisations to be aspirant senior managers or executive leaders.
• The graduates will be provided with broad knowledge of the energy sector to equip them to be generalist managers and leaders, specifically within the energy sector.
• The qualification, as the flagship programme for the Energy Leadership Centre, adds value to learners through extensive exposure to a comprehensive curriculum of energy and leadership disciplines.
• The qualification provides a holistic understanding of the energy industry, literate in the basic sources of the energy supply and demand system, the extraction conversion and transport, storage, wholesaling and retailing of energy carriers.
• The qualification will also develop energy leadership skills appropriate for the energy sector, systems thinking capabilities, decarbonising the energy sectors, ethics of the energy industry and financing and investment in energy projects.

There is the opportunity to specialise in the field by selecting electives. Graduates are sought after by both private and non-profit sector organisations due to the critical need for energy leaders/managers and energy consulting specialists across all industry sectors. Graduates from this qualification are limitless in their variation of how they wish to apply their expertise. Professions and occupational areas include state energy policy-making, electricity utilities, electricity generation, distribution and storage, oil and gas companies, energy equipment manufacturing, independent power producers, energy extractive industries, energy-intensive users/consumers, the legal profession, banking and financing, consulting, construction, engineering supply/infrastructure industries, energy marketers, business science professionals, and environmental planners and professionals.

Specifically, these roles may include

• Public servants.
• Heavy current engineers and light current engineers.
• Petroleum engineers and economists.
• Integrated energy planners.
• Coal and uranium mining managers and engineers.
• Gas engineers.
• Energy contract lawyers.
• Energy regulators.
• Energy financiers.
• Energy consumption managers.
• Energy project managers.
• Energy business consultants.
• Energy economists.
• Environmental impact assessors.
• Energy retail managers.
• Environmental planners.
• Construction engineers.
• Energy traders, including carbon.
• Energy academics and scholars.
• Commercial energy journalists and publishers, energy information service providers.
• Energy entrepreneurs and start-up founders.
• Corporate energy managers, senior managers, and executive leaders.

Ernst and Young (2016) conducted a preliminary investigation study on the merits and demand for such a qualification for the energy sector in SA and Africa. The study revealed that there is a significant opportunity for an institution to bridge the energy leadership skill gap by providing high-quality energy training, education and networking opportunities for industry members and thought leaders. In addition, the study showed that the curriculum specifically needed to focus on the management of energy (not technical) and to cover the full energy value chain. Finally, the investigation demonstrated both demand and supply side trends within the energy sector.

Demand side trends included

• The demand for energy skills is forecasted to increase significantly.
• Demand for petroleum engineers is set to increase by 17% by 2020.

The energy industry in Africa faces a significant skills supply shortage

• The energy workforce is ageing; the oil and gas sector is reliant on a workforce nearing retirement, with the average age being >50.
• More than half of the current upstream workforce is expected to retire within the next 10 years.
• 90% of major international oil and gas companies currently face a significant shortage of talent.
• Fewer young skilled workers are entering the industry as access to energy training/ education is often expensive and/ or overseas.

Supply-side trends included

• The energy industry is projected to generate hundreds of thousands of direct, indirect, and induced jobs over the next decade.
• Executives/ postgraduates require a greater understanding of the energy industry.
• High competition for energy experts as the pool is small.
• Intensified focus on recruiting women into the industry.
• The energy sector is increasingly becoming inextricably interdependent and interlinked.

The empirical research as well as industry calls for education and skills development due to a huge dearth in energy management and leadership expertise, such as recognised through the generosity of this State Information Technology Agency (SITA) as well as CHIETA. They all provide evidence for the demands for the qualification as well as the continuum of benefits to African economies and societies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution supports the Government's view that recognition of prior learning (RPL) constitutes an essential element of the transformation of access and admissions policies intended to increase participation and broaden access to higher education to produce graduates with the skills and competencies necessary to meet the human resource needs of the country.

Learners involved in non-formal learning activities related to management but do not receive certification such as those undertaken in the workplace, voluntary sector, or trade union and in community-based settings will be eligible for RPL. Also, informal learning which takes place through life and work experience may be recognised by the institution. Senate permits faculties to allow access to the qualification and/or the granting of exemption or full/partial credits towards one or more modules, which will have been acquired through non-formal and informal learning.

Through the recognition of prior learning, the institution will consider all relevant learning, irrespective of mode or place of learning. In seeking recognition under RPL, relevant prior learning must be demonstrated via various documented means, i.e., through the submission of a portfolio demonstrating clear outcomes relevant to the qualification concerned or through the taking of an appropriate examination or assessment. An assessment for admission or partial credit towards a deemed qualification will be administered by the institution. The focus of the institution's RPL process will be on the demonstration of learning and not merely the exposure to learning opportunities. This will also have to consider the learner's chances of succeeding in the qualification for which the learner wishes to register.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Science Honours in Energy Studies, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Leadership, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Leadership, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Honours degree in a cognate field, NQF level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8 and 9 totalling 190 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 60 Credits

• Energy Value Chains, 10 Credits.
• Energy Geography, Geopolitics and Macroeconomics, 10 Credits.
• Strategic Management of Energy Innovation, 10 Credits.
• Energy and Environmental Sustainability, 10 Credits.
• Energy, Finance, Business Strategy, and Investment, 10 Credits.
• Ethics and Corporate Governance, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 110 Credits

• Energy Policy and Regulatory Dispensations, 10 Credits.
• Systems Thinking and Complexity, 10 Credits.
• Leadership Quest, 10 Credits.
• Strategic Talent Management in Energy Environments, 10 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 10 Credits.
• Research Report, 60 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 9, 20 Credits (Select any two modules from the options)

• Energy Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa, 10 Credits.
• Futures in Energy, 10 Credits.
• Energy Market structures, 10 Credits.
• Decarbonising Energy, 10 Credits.
• Energy in future cities, 10 Credits.
• Leadership, 10 Credits.

1. Demonstrate understanding at an advanced scholarly level of the energy demand/supply balance as it feeds back through the energy carrier value chains and the convergence and interplay between these value chains, such that the learner can engage with and critique their applicability to African and South African contexts.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the broad sweep of global energy history, and its current and evolving geographic patterns of demand and supply in the context of global strategic geopolitics.
3. Access, use and manage quantitative and qualitative information in such a way that the learner can interpret and produce insights in a range of energy business management areas.
4. Apply conceptual and analytical frameworks of the energy value chain to generate solutions and insights that can address complex and challenging problems in a range of complex organisational internal and external energy management conditions.
5. Evaluate the probable consequences of management implementation of energy business solutions and insights generated through the use of energy business-management concepts and frameworks and address the intended and unintended consequences of such interventions.
6. Present information and defend substantial insights and solutions to energy management business dilemmas in a range of written and oral modes and genres appropriate to both academic and senior business management audiences.
7. Enhance strategic leadership and problem-solving skills and scholarly expertise in energy sector business appropriate to complex and rapidly changing organisational environments.
8. Develop ethical and practical managerial leadership and good governance skills including abilities to exercise autonomous judgement about complex organisational and professional issues within an environment of competing values in an energy economy, and an ability to contribute to the development of ethical standards around energy business practice in specific organizations.
9. Conceptualise, pursue, and present research into complex problems in contextualised energy sector and industry business-management environments and make persuasive recommendations.
10. Sustain independent and professional learning and interact effectively in terms of the learning group; as well as accountability for his/her own work, and governance practices in the learning group, in the achievement of ELOs1-8.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Analyse and solve complex and ambiguous problems.
• Evaluate the energy carrier value chain energy/demand-supply balance and the convergence and interplay between these value chains.
• Critically assess the levels of demand/supply balance as a feedback loop to the energy value the convergence and interplay between these value chains.
• Appraise a range of methods and techniques for value chain analysis and critique their applicability to African and South African contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Conduct strategic analysis in the rapidly changing and contested world of energy management.
• Apply historical knowledge of the broad sweep of global energy history, and its current and evolving geographic patterns of demand and supply in the context of global strategic geopolitics.
• Examine the basic characteristics, scale, and major changes in the industry.
• Apply the knowledge of the different subsectors of the energy industry and how they function in terms of supply and demand, infrastructure, and energy pricing.
• Analyse the transformative political, regulatory, and technological changes/trends in the global energy sector.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Collect, analyse, and critically evaluate information.
• Interpret, critically analyse, and accurately apply information to produce insights in a range of energy business management areas.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Recognise that problem-solving does not exist in isolation and understand the world as a set of related systems.
• Explicate the context and rationale for the energy value chain to generate solutions to address complex and challenging problems to a range of internal and external organisational energy management conditions.
• Evaluate and assess energy processes through a system thinking approach and identify the appropriate connections between systems, solutions, and societal needs.
• Illustrate effective systems approaches to understand systems and work with complexity, uncertainty, and risk.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Apply a range of systems analysis tools in the context of energy systems to diagnose and manage system-related issues.
• Critically analyse the environmental and broader sustainability impacts of energy extraction, transport, transformation, and consumption along the energy value chain.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of written presentation.
• Demonstrate proficiency in presenting and impact in a compelling manner, either orally or in written form.
• Critically reflect on insights and solutions to energy management business dilemmas in a range of written and oral modes and genres.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Collaborate with others as a member of a thought leadership group to solve complex problems of an organisation.
• Evaluate and analyse the dominant understanding of innovation systems in general, and energy technology innovation systems in particular, in Global, Continental, and South African contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Describe and consistently apply ethical principles and good governance practice in the management and leadership in the energy economy.
• Critically assess the key functions of leadership, namely, setting direction, building, and maintaining relationships and ensuring effective execution of strategy in the energy sectors and contributions to the economy.
• Formulate and present a comprehensive definition of "governance" and interpret the different ways "governance" is used in the academic, policy and development literature.
• Apply ethical standards and principles by documenting policy criteria for the relationship between "governance" and "corruption"; and assess the relationship between "governance" and specific "anti-corruption" measures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Select and examine complex problems in a contextualised energy sector and industry business management environments.
• Critically evaluate the literature and apply it to real-world situations where the intersection between science, technology, energy challenges, societal concerns, and the natural environment, reflects an arena where innovation can have a decisive impact.
• Analyse the relationships between complexity, uncertainty, and risk, and how to manage them to produce outcomes which are robust as well as efficient.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Manage change as individuals and in groups.
• Use skills to manage oneself and exercise self-discipline.
• Initiate and plan the successful completion of projects and administrative tasks individually or in collaboration.