Repowering Leadership in European Energy and Food

Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Western response are producing spiking prices in tight markets in natural gas, oil, and food on the backdrop of global supply chain disruptions and a post-pandemic world. The result is an emerging inflection point for security in energy and food supplies. This eight-day course will delve into the changing geopolitical and institutional landscape of Europe at the grassroots level and in international relations.

Course instructors will provide insight into how energy, food, and leadership foster instability or stability. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine broke an already tight energy market. This is dramatically altering both the scale and speed of the EU’s energy transition, now outlined in the RePowerEU plan which accelerates the Fit for 55 plan. This course delivers expert insight into the background and emerging solutions making our energy and food systems more resilient and sustainable.

The course aims to equip emerging leaders with knowledge and experience to assist in framing the interlinked challenges for more sustainable energy and agricultural transition. The target audience is emerging leaders in policy, NGOs, and business. This includes academia, think tanks, policy research centers, non-governmental organizations focused on social and environmental issues, and energy and agricultural businesses. Course content will inform the work of actors and activists in alternative food and energy networks, supplementing their knowledge of transition movements with an in-depth analysis of the nexus between agriculture and energy systems.  

Participants will gain detailed knowledge of how EU energy markets work and how cities and communities are energizing their communities through social engagement and new technologies. Discussions will involve reflecting on the particularities of the present crisis being experienced today (high inflation, high energy, and food prices) and how these differ from previous decades of abundance in food and energy. There is an emerging inflection point for society and economics, participants will gain an understanding of both the challenges and emerging solutions.

Key topics will discuss the formation and institutions in Europe along with measures necessary for greater resiliency in the energy and food system. The legal system will be addressed as well as emerging EU regulations necessary to weather and move beyond Europe’s current energy crisis. The course also addresses critical questions around international relations and why good leadership in politics, energy, and food leads to a more stable world. The discussions will inform the impact on the Global South with the restricted agricultural exports from Russia and Ukraine. In addition, the global competition for LNG drives prices up as Europe replaces Russian gas with global LNG supplies. The intent is to assist participants in becoming leaders in their fields.

The objective is to: 1) foster integration of knowledge on energy and food in a time of crisis; 2) Educate emerging leaders on European policymaking, market operations, and the role of institutions; 3) foster leadership skills to enable participants to lead in their roles, and 4) foster greater collaboration with the OSUN partners. To meet the objectives of the course a diverse set of expert instructors will be attending and teaching.

This summer school aims to deliver an intensive knowledge and skills exchange over eight days. Each of the instructors is an accomplished academic and skillful advisor to policymakers or actual policymakers themselves. The intent is to bring together both a diverse skill set and expertise along with experience to demonstrate a broad spectrum of approaches to tackle climate change. The schedule is created to foster intensive exchanges of ideas in the classroom with periods of group discussions, such as the roundtables and activities when informal discussions can occur. Each day contains at least one of these events. Some of the instructors are expected to stay for most of the course, while some may stay for two to three days.

The course will include interactive discussions, group assignments, consultation sessions, presentations, podcast recordings, and field trips.

Course leader

Michael LaBelle
Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy/Department of Economics and Business, Central European University, Vienna, Austria

Target group

The target audience is emerging leaders in policy, NGOs, and business. This includes young and advanced scholars in established fields of energy and food, mid-level analysts and managers of firms and policy think tanks in academia, policy research centers, non-governmental organizations focused on social and environmental issues, and energy and agricultural businesses.

We also invite applications from advanced undergraduate students who have adequate prior study or engagement experience on the subject and make a compelling case in their application/statement of interest.

Pre-requisites
As a prerequisite for the course, participants need to demonstrate previous knowledge and experience in the international energy and food sectors. A strong research, policy or business background with at least five years of experience is suggested.

Applicants need to write a one-page (400 words) Statement of Purpose of why this summer school is relevant for them and how they could apply the learning. Students will need to do course readings before coming to the summer school.

Course aim

The objective is to: 1) foster integration of knowledge on energy and food in a time of crisis; 2) Educate emerging leaders on European policymaking, market operations, and the role of institutions; 3) foster leadership skills to enable participants to lead in their roles, and 4) foster greater collaboration with the OSUN partners. To meet the objectives of the course a diverse set of expert instructors will be attending and teaching.

This summer school aims to deliver an intensive knowledge and skills exchange over eight days. Each of the instructors is an accomplished academic and skillful advisor to policymakers or actual policymakers themselves. The intent is to bring together both a diverse skill set and expertise along with experience to demonstrate a broad spectrum of approaches to tackle climate change. The schedule is created to foster intensive exchanges of ideas in the classroom with periods of group discussions, such as the roundtables and activities when informal discussions can occur. Each day contains at least one of these events. Some of the instructors are expected to stay for most of the course, while some may stay for two to three days.

Credits info

2 EC
A Certificate of Attendance is also awarded at full attendance.

Fee info

EUR 480: payable until May 28
EUR 432: payable until April 30

Scholarships

Financial aid is available.