Proposing a master's programme on participatory integrated assessment of energy systems to promote energy access and energy efficiency in Southern Africa Articles uri icon

authors

  • KIRAVU, CHEDDI
  • DÍAZ MAURÍN, FRANCOIS
  • GIAMPIETRO, MARIO
  • BRENT, ALAN C.
  • BUKKERS, SANDRA G. F.
  • CHIGUVARE, ZIVAYI
  • GASENNELWE-JEFFREY, MANDU A.
  • GOPE, GIDEON
  • KOVACIC, ZORA
  • MAGOLE, LAPOLOGNANG
  • KAVITI MUSANGO, JOSEPHINE
  • RUIZ-RIVAS HERNANDO, ULPIANO
  • SMIT, SUZANNE
  • VAZQUEZ BARQUERO, ANTONIO
  • YUNTA MEZQUITA, FELIPE

publication date

  • March 2018

start page

  • 622

end page

  • 641

issue

  • 3

volume

  • 19

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1467-6370

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1758-6739

abstract

  • Purpose This paper aims to present a new master's programme for promoting energy access and energy efficiency in Southern Africa. Design/methodology/approach A transdisciplinary approach called participatory integrated assessment of energy systems (PARTICIPIA) was used for the development of the curriculum. This approach is based on the two emerging fields of multi-scale integrated assessment and science for governance, which bring innovative concepts and methods. Findings The application of the PARTICIPIA methodology to three case studies reveals that the proposed transdisciplinary approach could support energy and development policies in the region. The implementation of the PARTICIPIA curriculum in three higher education institutions reveals its ability to respond to the needs of specific contexts and its connection with existing higher education programmes. Practical implications Considering energy issues from a transdisciplinary approach in higher education is absolutely critical because such a holistic view cannot be achieved through engineering curricula. Deliberate and greater efforts should be made to integrate methods from multi-scale integrated assessment and science for governance in higher education curricula to train a new breed of modern-day energy planners in charge of coming up with solutions that are shared by all relevant stakeholders. Originality/value This paper presents an innovative higher education curriculum in terms of the attention given to energy access and energy efficiency that affect the southern Africa region and the nature of the methodology adopted to face these issues.

keywords

  • energy planning; participatory methods; higher education curricula; integrated assessment; nexus assessment; transdisciplinary education