African Energy Leadership Centre

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We equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to meet Africa’s energy challenges

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Good news! The deadline for applications has been extended to 31 October 2022

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PDEL
Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Leadership
Course Basics
Basics

Duration

1 year - Modular Format

Study Mode

Full Time

Qualification

Post Graduate

Academic category

Specialist Degree

Programme Overview

Wits Business School launched the African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC) in 2017, the first of its kind in Africa. The AELC aims to address the issues of energy shortages in Africa as well as the skills deficit in an industry which is of vital importance to economic growth on the continent. A hub of teaching and research, the focus of the AELC is on the latest thinking and best practice in energy leadership.

The three main areas of the Africa Energy Leadership Centre are: Postgraduate and Executive Education Research & Thought Leadership Networking and Professional Development The AELC offers a specialised Master’s degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Leadership. Both programmes will provide you with a solid foundation in all aspects of energy leadership in order to make you a more confident, decisive and effective leader in this sector.

Curriculum
Core Courses

This course introduces energy demand as it relates to the primary energy carriers and their value chains including concepts and units used in measuring energy carriers.

This course interrogates decision-making trade-offs between energy carriers and environmental sustainability within a context of climate change, international market interventions and changing consumer preferences.

This course gives a broad overview of leadership and allows leaders an opportunity to apply the basic concepts of teams and teamwork in practice. It includes leadership theory and mindsets that determine effective leadership.

This course introduces corporate and project financing structures – together with risks and enabling contracts in the context of business strategy. Candidates will undertake financial modelling.

Elective Course Streams
Stream A: Energy Stream

This course examines and evaluates energy supply and demand from a global perspective. It reviews the historical development of energy resource endowments and international trade as influenced by strategic, geopolitical, economic, and environmental concerns and ambitions.

This course equips candidates with strategic management knowledge and skills to address new and emerging technologies for extracting, transporting, and delivering energy services to customers.

This course provides candidates with an introduction to sound corporate ethics and corporate governance including systems of management and procurement in relation to energy investments.

This course provides candidates with an introduction to local and international best practices in the field of energy talent management.

This course introduces a broad conceptualisation of regulatory policy and economic regulation. Themes include regulatory dispensations for energy infrastructure and access to energy infrastructure markets.

This course introduces the theoretical and practical issues associated with energy entrepreneurship and developing energy enterprises in Africa.

This course provides candidates with an understanding of the primary methods used to reduce carbon emissions from energy carriers. It is designed to equip students with insights into transforming energy systems into lower emission systems.

This course provides students with an overview of systems thinking within energy environments that require students to see and make connections between solutions, systems, and society.

Stream B: Electricity Stream

This course provides an overview of the core functions, operational principles, and practices, of the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) and Electricity Distribution Industry (EDI). It includes a review of the high-level policy and regulatory requirements applicable to each segment of the electricity market.

This course provides an overview of the basic technical and engineering functions of power systems, at an appropriate level of technical detail for policymakers and utility executives. It develops a foundational and contextual understanding of existing and emerging power sector technologies and system integration issues.

This course provides an overview of electricity supply industry policy making processes in SA and the implementation thereof, including the fiscal consequences of various policy options (state owned companies and privately owned companies) with a view towards financial sustainability for the industry.

This course focuses on developing an essential understanding of the key principles and good management practices that drive business sustainability of electricity utility businesses. This includes a focus on utility revenue management and collection, as well as an overview of utility licensing conditions.

This course develops an understanding of the fundamentals of policymaker oversight practices for electricity utilities. It covers utility revenue management and collection, utility asset management, utility ring-fencing, and utility performance benchmarking. It supports policy decision making with respect to long term sustainability of electricity utilities.

This double course examines the fundamentals of utility tariff methodologies, and the various types of rates and tariff structures that can be employed to charge customers.  It covers revenue requirements, base generation tariffs and Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) calculations, cost of supply principles, tariff orders and case studies.

This course develops a foundational understanding of how power market’s function and can be organized, reformed, and ultimately transformed.  Candidates are exposed to concepts such as vertical, horizontal unbundling, competition across various market segments, and the role of privatisation, and good practices for governance during transitions.

Textbooks are available on www.mind-matters.co.za.

For non-degree purposes:
  • The admission requirements are the same as for degree purposes
  • Candidates must do the assignments and write the exam for any course. Successful candidates will be awarded a course credit that could be used if they register for a degree at Wits in subsequent years.
Certificate of attendance:
  • Preference will be given to applicants that register for all seven courses.
  • Candidates will NOT do the assignments nor write the exam for any course. The admission requirements are at least matric level competency in mathematics and English plus two years appropriate work experience.
  • In certain cases exceptions are considered if a written motivation is provided.
Entry Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree (NQF 7). In exceptional cases, non-degreed individuals with working experience are considered.
  • Mathematics and English – a level of above-average competence equivalent to the requirements for the SA matriculation certificate.
  • Two years’ appropriate work experience. In certain cases, exceptions are considered.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (for students who have not studied at tertiary level in English)
  • Candidates may also be required to attend an interview with WBS.
Application Process
Only online applications are accepted.
Please ensure that all information is correct and that you have uploaded everything on this checklist.
Checklist:
Please note:
  • WBS reserves the right to change its schedule as required.
  • WBS processes applications for admissions in the order of receipt thereof.
  • A R15 000 minimum deposit will be required upon acceptance.
  • Click here for our full disclaimer.
I derived huge value from the programme, including being able to decipher government’s energy policies and regulations and to be able to understand the jargon used in the sector.
Gcobisa Melamane
Contact Details
General Enquiries:
+27 (0)11 717 3574
marketing.aelc@wits.ac.za
Admission Enquiries:
Qawekazi Damane
qawekazi.damane@wits.ac.za
Disclaimer
  • WBS reserves the right to change its schedule as required.
  • WBS processes applications for admissions on a continuous basis in the order of receipt thereof.
  • A R15 000 minimum deposit will be required upon acceptance of a place on the programme.
  • Click here for our full disclaimer
  • WBS is entitled to cancel or change the date of delivery of a programme without notice and for any reason without incurring any liability to individuals who have applied or are enrolled on the programme or any funders of such individuals (“participants” or “funders of participants”).
  • Without derogating from the aforesaid, and insofar as it possible, WBS will provide the participants or funders of the participants with 30 (thirty days) days written notice of any cancellation or changes in the dates of delivery of the programme. 
  • Insofar as the programme is cancelled or rescheduled prior to delivery of the programme then in that event the participants and funders of the participants will not be charged the full programme fees.
  • Click here for the Wits Business School Rules and Regulations
Basics

Duration

18 to 24 months

Study Mode

Block Release

Level

NQF 9

Composition

9 Core Courses

Compulsory

1 Elective Course

50%

1 Research Report

50%*

African Energy Leadership Centre

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