Erasmus Mundus Programe

Training period Master thesis Mobility EMIN Master contents

The EMIN is a two-year joint programme (120 ECTS) with two separate phases:

Training period (90 ECTS): 3 semesters worth 30 ECTS each of lectures at the partner universities.

Master Thesis and internships (30 ECTS): to be carried by students at any of the EMIN partner universities, with the collaboration of the industry partners that will support the development of professional internship of EMIN students during the last stage of their studies.

1° Training period

During the training period, the EMIN program must be bed from various disciplines. The training of EMIN students must combine, in a coordinated manner, the economics of network industries, the management and policy of infrastructures, the regulation of key sectors for the development of the European single market, and the technological aspects that characterise network industries from other sectors. This interdisciplinary nature is one of the most unique features of the EMIN joint programme, and it requires careful design in order to guarantee that students with different backgrounds (economics and engineering) are able to supplement their previous training with new concepts and areas of knowledge while keeping the cohesiveness of the whole programme. The structure of the training period can be represented as shown in the figure below, in which each box represents the main area of expertise of the degree-awarding partners.

Contents of the coursework period are detailed below in this same section, (see Tables 2-6).

2° Master thesis

Once students have passed the required 90 ECTS of training coursework, they will start a research period for their Master Thesis (30 ECTS)¹ . The university hosting students for their dissertations may offer them additional coursework required for the development of the master dissertation.

Students may write their theses either at a university department, laboratory or institute, or in a company placement, depending on the pathway and interest of the candidate. The EMIN Master has fostered the establishment of regular links and internship agreements with companies so that students willing to have a professional experience linked to their Master Thesis can be granted this opportunity.

Industries involved in the EMIN advisory committee as associated partners, will participate especially in this placement agreements, but a growing number of other companies with a looser relationship to the Master will also be involved.

In any case, students will submit Master Theses at the University where the thesis has been registered, and in front of an international committee, taking advantage of the yearly joint dedicated research seminar to be held at the Florence School of Regulation - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute in Florence (Italy).

3° Mobility

The previous experience of the four groups of EMIN students already in progress show two different student profiles:

engineering graduates searching for a more global systemic approach that includes economic, management and policy perspectives, and

economics and management graduates requiring advanced tools in the technological layer to better understand the fundamentals of network industries.

Common to both these profiles is the focus on advanced tools for decision-making, regulation and policy analysis.

The co-existence of these two different disciplinary profiles requires a more specific framework for student pathways to follow through the universities of the Consortium. The flexibility of the course in terms of the mobility component is very attractive, but it must be very structured in order to define clearly what the expected outcome is once a student finishes the course.

This ‘structured flexibility’ has been made explicit in this proposed update by the definition of various pathways. Each pathway requires a different background, and some of the skills and abilities earned by the student can be pathway-dependent. From the point of view of career development and employability, this structure can help future employers to easily identify the expected abilities of EMIN graduates, and to differentiate the variety of profiles according to the pathway followed in such an interdisciplinary programme.

Using for each partner (C=Comillas, D=TU Delft, P=Paris Sud 11, L=KU Leuven, F=Florence School of Regulation, J=Johns Hopkins U, T=U. Texas at Austin, R = F. U. Rio de Janeiro, and for the associate member B=Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., and H=Harbin Institute of Technology), the table below summarises the main pathways:

Table 1 Main student pathways in the EMIN

Pathway

Background

Sem 1

Sem 2

Sem 3

Sem 4

Engineering

C, [J]

[C, D, L, P, F, J, T, R, B, H]

Engineering

C, [J]

[C, D, L, P, F, J, T, R, B, H]

Economics

[C, D, L, P, F, J, T, R, B, H]

The training period is established jointly by the EMIN partners, according to their respective areas of expertise. The different pathways offered are the result of the previous 4 years of EMIN experience, and have been designed responding to the student profiles, learning objectives and industrial needs. These pathways take advantage of the complementarities of the partners, but are designed in an integrated way to target different professional profiles. In particular, each student on our course is offered the chance to choose between 3 options to take on our Masters degree²:

A student with an engineering background may opt to acquire specialist training in policy analysis, and in regulation of the electric power industry. This student will select then Pathway 1.

An engineer graduate wishing to become an expert on economics and regulation, with an in-depth knowledge of the power sector, will study in Paris-Sud and Comillas via Pathway 2.

An economics graduate with this same economics and regulatory approach would follow Pathway 3.

The semester at Johns Hopkins U. is recognised at Comillas U. and it requires the student to spend another semester in Comillas (valid combinations will be C, J or J, C in the third and fourth semesters respectively, where the Master Thesis could be split trough the whole second year and combined with coursework in both Universities).

The structure of the pathways reflects the mandatory mobility of the students, who must visit at least two partners during the training period, and an optional third one while writing their Master Theses. The two partners where students spend semesters 1, 2, and 3 will determine the two master degrees awarded under the multiple-degree scheme until the joint-degree scheme is available.

Another improvement with respect to the current design is that students’ mobility has been limited to avoid changes during the academic year. The experience of the last four years shows that allowing students to change their place of residence in the middle of the academic year (typically at the end of January) creates many practical difficulties that should be avoided if possible.

Scholar mobility

Between 2006 and 2010 the EMIN master benefited from the contribution of EM visiting scholars from the USA (6 visiting professors), Canada (3), Australia (3), China (3), Brazil (3), India (1) and Chile. The universities involved include the Universities of California at Berkeley, of Arizona, of Texas at Austin, of Queensland and of New Southwales. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also participated in the programme and yet other visiting scholars have taken part in the course under arrangements that entail shorter visits and other sources of funding.

Pursuant to the new approach, short two-week visits can be arranged to benefit from the experience of highly regarded, top-of-the-field visiting scholars, as well as of (incoming and outgoing) professionals able to spend more time to address their areas of expertise in greater depth.

The scholars take part in teaching and tutoring activities at their hosting HEI, while also participating in joint research relevant to the EMIN. A number of them likewise participate in the joint events organised by the EMIN consortium, especially the annual closing event at the Florence School of Regulation. EMIN Scholars are encouraged to visit more than one EMIN partner or to participate in joint events and conferences.

One important outcome of EMIN Scholar mobility is the reinforcement of links among universities of prestige. Most of the new EMIN third country partners and associates have participated in scholar mobility and exchange programmes in the past.

Although in previous editions of the EMIN, no outgoing scholar mobility from EU partners to third country institutions could be funded by the EM scholarships, such mobility was implemented and has also contributed to the expansion of the EMIN Partnership.

4° EMIN Master contents

The courses offered by the universities in the Consortium within this Erasmus Mundus Masters course are outlined in Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, and Table 6. Courses offered in semester 4 can serve as additional training while developing the Master Thesis.

Table 2 Courses in TU Delft – The Netherlands (Delft)

Course	Professor	ECTS

Semester 1
Principles of Policy Analysis	A. de Haan	6
Data Analysis	P.W. Heijen	3
Technology, Firm Behaviour and Market Regulation	S.T.H. Storm	3
Continuous systems modelling	E. Pruyt & J.H. Slinger	6
Cross-cultural Management	W. M. de Jong	6
Project Management	A. Verbraeck & H.G.Mooi	3
At least 3 ECTS of the following elective courses:
Policy and Decision Models	S. Cinningham	5
Politics of Policy Analysis	M. Leijten	4
Technology Dynamics	W.Ravesteijn	4
Economics of Innovation	C. Werker	4
E-business	W. Bouwman	6
Management of ICT-Orientated Organizations	W. Bouwman	5
Technology Dynamics for Sustainable Innovation	U. Pesch	6
The Economic Foundations of Technology	A. H. Kleinknecht	6
Leading the Corporation	R. M. Verburg	3
General Methods and Techniques in Research	L. Rook & Z. Kwee	5
	Total	30 ECTS

Semester 2
Policy Analysis of Multi-actor systems	B. Enserink	3
Impact Assessment & Project Appraisal	J. Annema	3
Economics of Infrastructures	J. J. Bouma	6
Discrete Systems Modeling	M. D. Seck	6
Organization and Management	S. A. Meijer	3
Inter-organizational Decision Making	B. Broekhans	6
Multivariate Modelling	P. W. Heijnen	3
	Total	30 ECTS

Semester 4
Master Thesis		30
	Total	30 ECTS

Table 3 Courses in U. Paris Sud 11 – France (Paris)

Course	Professor	ECTS

Semester 1/3
Market Design Economics	J. M. Glachant & V. Rious	5
Information society Economics	A. Rallet	4
Political Economy of institutions and regulation	E. Brousseau.	5
European Policy and Competition in the European Union	Y. Perez	4
Public Private Partnerships	E. Chong	4
At least 8 ECTS of the following elective courses:
Economics and Management of Innovation	P. David & J-M Dale	4
Data Base Management	A. Plunket	4
Competencies and Technologies Spillover	A. Plunket	4
Economic Geography	A. Torre	4
Economie Industrielle (Français)	M. Bourreau	4
Firm Strategy in Network Industries (Français)	P. J. Bengozi	4
Econometrics I (Français)	Waelbroeck	4
Econometrics II (Français)	Waelbroeck	4
Economics of intellectual property rights (Français)	B. Deffains	4
	Total	30 ECTS

Semester 2
Advanced Market Design	J. M. Glachant & V. Rious	7
Networks, Organization & Markets Economics	E. Chong	7
Industrial Economics Seminars	Y. Perez & E. Chong	4
European Economy	S. Poncet	4
At least 8 ECTS of the following elective courses:
Advanced course of Economics of Regulation (Français)	J. Toledano	2
Advanced course of Economics and Management of innovations (Français)	P-J Benghozi & J-M Dalle	2
Advanced course of Digital Economy (Français)	E. Brousseau & A. Rallet	2
The regulation of the electricity sector	M. Saguan	2
The new competitive mechanisms: Auctions and Contracts	C. Staropoli	2
	Total	30 ECTS

Semester 4
Training Course and Master Dissertation		30
	Total	30 ECTS

Table 4 Courses in Comillas – Spain (Madrid)

Course	Professor	ECTS

Semester 1
Introduction to electric power systems	D. Laloux & M. Rivier	2
Regulation of the electric power industry	J.I. Pérez-Arriaga	6
Decision support models in the electric power industry	J. García-Glez. & A. Ramos	4
Environmental impact and renewable energy	P. Linares	3
Microeconomics and Financial Analysis of the electric power industry	M. Ventosa	6
Managerial Skills	A. Wilson	2
Business Ethics	A. Bajo	1
State of the art conferences and technical visits I	T. Gómez (coord.)	2
At least 4 ECTS of the following elective courses:
Deterministic optimization	A. Ramos	3
Fundamentals on electrical engineering and optimization techniques [³]	J. García-Glez.	4
International experiences in the energy sector I	P. García (coord.)	2
Service-quality analysis of the electricity supply: regulatory framework and technical solutions	T. Gómez & P. García	4
Stochastic optimization	A. Ramos	3
	Total	30 ECTS

Semester 2
The electric power distribution business	T. Gómez	3
The electric power transmission business	M. Rivier	3
Wholesale and retail electricity markets	C. Batlle	7
The natural gas industry and fuels markets	R. Yunta	5
Law and Energy	V. López-Ibor	2
Legislation of the EU and the Spanish electricity industry	C. Sole	3
State of the art conferences and technical visits II	T. Gómez (coord.)	1
At least 6 ECTS of the following elective courses:
Advanced analysis of electric power systems	L. Rouco	4
Advanced topics in regulation of the electric power industry	J.I. Pérez Arriaga	4
Models for risk analysis and management in energy markets	J. Barquín & C. Batlle	3
Strategies in energy markets under Game Theory approach	J. Barquín & J. García-Glez.	3
International experiences in the energy sector II	P. García (coord.)	2
Decision methods (Spanish)	P. Linares	4
Simulation Methods (Spanish)	E. Centeno	3
	Total	30 ECTS

Semester 4
Master Thesis		30
	Total	30 ECTS
This Master Thesis could be could be split in semesters 3 & 4, 15 ECTS each in co-direction with Johns Hopkins U.

USA summer term Intensive course (part II)	J. García-Glez (coord.)	2
International Policy and Sustainability for Network Industries

US Policy on Network Industries: Energy, Transport, Communications
Transnational Network Companies Management
Multilateral organizations and other United Nations bodies
Science and Policy Institutions
		2 ECTS

[³]: This subject is compulsory for EMIN students without an engineering background as it was designed explicitly for them given the experience gain during the first edition.

Table 5 Courses in KULeuven – Belgium (Leuven)

Course	Professor	ECTS

Semester 4
Master Thesis		30
	Total	30 ECTS

Optional courses in Semester 4:
Electrical Transport Technology	J. Driesen & R. Belmans	3
Industrial Automation and Control	G. Deconinck & R. Belmans	6
Materials in Electrical Engineering	J. Poortmans	3
Renewable Energy	W. D'haeseleer & J. Nijs	3
Short-Circuit Calculations, Power Quality and Electromagnetic Compatibility	K. Van Reusel	3
Thermal Systems and Energy Management	W. D'haeseleer & L. Helsen	6
Electromagnetic Processing of Materials	K. Van Reusel	3
Electrical Drives	J.Driesen & R. Belmans	6
Regulatory Affairs	R.Belmans & T. Van Craenenbroeck	3

Table 6 Courses at JHU – US (Baltimore)

EU Academic recognition by Comillas as degree awarding partner

Course	Professor	ECTS

Semester 4
Master Thesis		30
	Total	30 ECTS

This Master Thesis could be could be split in semesters 3 & 4, 15 ECTS each in co-direction with Comillas.
Optional coursework at JHU:	B. Hobbs & J. Garcia–Glez. (coord.)
Environmental management & economics
Environmental process engineering
Water resources engineering
Contaminant fate & transport
For a detailed list of available optional coursework for EMIN students at JHU, please check http://ep.jhu.edu/course-homepages/#575
	up to 30 ECTS

USA summer term Intensive course (part I):	B. Hobbs (coord.)	2
Risk and Environmental Analysis of Network Infrastructures
Environmental and Resource Economics –Regulatory Discourse
Risk Analysis Frameworks and Methods for Network Infrastructure
Environmental Engineering Systems Analysis
Communicating and evaluating tradeoffs among social, environmental, economic and other objectives of network infrastructure management
		2 ECTS