Information on individual educational components (ECTS-Course descriptions) per semester

Energy and Society

Degree programme Sustainable Energy Systems
Subject area Engineering Technology
Type of degree Master
Part-time
Summer Semester 2025
Course unit title Energy and Society
Course unit code 072722040101
Language of instruction German, English
Type of course unit (compulsory, optional) Compulsory
Teaching hours per week 1
Year of study 2025
Level of the course / module according to the curriculum
Number of ECTS credits allocated 1
Name of lecturer(s) Anna KNORR
Requirements and Prerequisites

None

Course content

The course will focus on the dialogue between the students and experts, decision-makers and other stakeholders who are particularly involved in changing the energy system in Vorarlberg. The speakers come from business, state and local politics, public and private institutions and civil society. In their contributions to the course, they address either permanent or current topics from energy and climate policy, business and society, or directly from the energy sector. For example

  • Energy policy frameworks of state policy, federal policy and the EU and their impact in Vorarlberg
  • The energy autonomy process in Vorarlberg
  • Democratisation of energy supply: Co-decision and investment
  • Acceptance as 4th target figure in the energy policy target triangle
  • Climate policy goals: "2 degrees and 1 ton."
  • Beautiful Energy: Architecture and Energy Efficiency in Intelligent Buildings
  • Post-fossil "zero marginal costs" society
  • CO2 price for all consumption sectors
  • Energy turnaround as capital turnaround: Regional return and energy autonomy
  • Security and quality of supply in the renewable energy system
  • Challenges for companies, infrastructure operators, municipalities and households
Learning outcomes

In the framework of the courses the students understand the interaction of energy technology and energy economy with concrete fields of action from politics, society and economy in the " Real Laboratory " Vorarlberg.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods
  •  Lecture and expert dialogue: Lecture and moderated discussion on an energy policy, economic, technical or socio-political topic.
  •  Keynote speeches and panel discussion: Panel discussion with keynote speeches by the participants and moderated discussion on current, relevant and controversial topics from energy and society.
Assessment methods and criteria
  • Be present and actively participate in events
  • Minimum 90% participation in the courses
  • In case of insufficient attendance reflective report
Comment

The Presentations and Panel Discussions will be organised as far as possible as publicly accessible events.

Recommended or required reading

Individually announced.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance learning)

Presence event with compulsory attendance