Content description

• The summer school’s premise is that the energy transition has a systemic nature, implying that a sectoral approach or merely technical innovation are not sufficient. It requires a co-evolution of infrastructure and technology, cultural meaning and beliefs about problems and solutions, changes in rules and institutions and reshuffling of actors and their power relations.  
• The summer school underlines the importance of an inter- and transdisciplinary approach, integrating knowledge across academic disciplines and with non-academic stakeholders to address the sustainability challenge ahead. The summer school therefore offers an attractive and varied programme with lectures, interactive sessions and site visits.  
• To bring taught concepts and theories to life and to explore the actual implementation and its challenges, the programme will use the unique Antwerp region ecosystem (including the city, the port of Antwerp, neigbourhoods, industry, research hubs, …). The summer school offers unique opportunities to network with policy makers, companies, NGOs and academics. 
• To prepare for the participant’s future as a change agent in the energy transition, this summer school focuses on problem-based learning, activating teaching methods, and a group project where participants collaborate in a collective and inter- and transdisciplinary setting to develop a problem definition and solution scenarios for a specific challenge in the energy transition.  
• The summer school focuses on energy transitions in Western welfare states and regions, without losing sight of the immer current global dimensions. This summer school explicitly aims to train participants aiming to engage in the energy transition in a Western European or broader: a ‘Global North’ context, also particularly welcoming non-EU students that aim to work in the Global North. The international setting of the summer school, the international participants group and the international perspectives brought in during the workshops are a distinct advantage of this summer school. 

The programme targets students, as well as professionals and researchers, who are eager to deepen their understanding of energy transitioning from a multidisciplinary perspective. Candidates from various academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, such as but not limited to social sciences, environmental sciences, economics, policy, law, and engineering. A strong interest in sustainability and a multidisciplinary approach are essential. Eligible participants should have completed at least three years of higher education, including final-year bachelor students, master's students, professionals, and researchers.

Below you will find an overview of the programme, including the established topics of the day as well as some already confirmed sessions and speakers. Please note that this is a provisional schedule and may be subject to changes. The full day-by-day schedule will be provided during the course of the spring.

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to: 

• Understand the reasons for an energy transition, situate the current and desired energy mix, and reflect upon the necessary transformation of energy infrastructure and energy markets
• Explain what different types of changes a(n energy) transition requires, and be able to critically reflect about managerial aspects of transitions
• Understand the role of the European Union in the global energy transition, characterise EU climate and energy policies and reflect upon energy security in times of geopolitical shifts
• Understand the implications of the energy transition for the energy policy of businesses, including being acquainted with energy auditing and energy monitoring
• ​​​Understand the justice implications of the energy transition, including being able to explain potential impacts of energy transition on existing and new social inequalities​​
• ​​Share practical insights into the ‘transition on the ground’ in businesses and NGO settings, through excursions and guest lectures from experts with diverse backgrounds​
• Develop and critically assess solutions for the energy transition, with special sensitivity towards the complexity of the challenge and being able to navigate between the perspectives of different disciplines and stakeholders​​

Successful completion of the summer school can be awarded with 3 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits will be awarded by the University of Antwerp based on completing the preparatory track, 95% (active) participation during the course and group work sessions and delivery of a presentation at the end of the course. 

To include the credits in the curriculum at the home institution, participants need an agreement with the responsible person at their university. University of Antwerp students eligible to include the ECTS credits as part of their study programme must register via Mobility Online and SisA.

All certificates of completion are issued as a micro-credential. Participants who attend the scheduled course contact hours, but don't complete the tasks will receive a certificate of attendance.

This summer school takes place at Stadscampus (Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp) of the University of Antwerp. This campus is located in the city centre.