Driving through the picturesque German countryside, the busload of Alberta MBA students, faculty and alumni witnessed a compelling view of an advanced, diversified energy landscape.
GLOBAL OPTIONS & FUTURES UNLIMITED
The 12 participants hail from a range of backgrounds, but all have one thing in common – they are affiliated with the University of Alberta’s Natural Resources and Energy MBA specialization – a 10-year-old program unique in North America. On this particular study tour, the goal is to advance an understanding of Europe’s energy makeup and its role in our increasingly integrated world.
International tours, weekly site visits, summer internships and applied research opportunities like this are part of what attracts students from around the world to the Alberta MBA program and, in turn, contributes to their preparedness for global opportunities.
For students Casey Mckenzie and Dan Stickney, the capstone European study tour perfectly supplemented their summer internship in Peru’s rainforest. “The priority of the program to incorporate alternative energy education in an energy-rich province shows its global perspective,” says Mckenzie. For Stickney, pursuing a joint MBA and Masters of Forestry degree enabled him to efficiently achieve his academic goals. International business specialist Rose Liuto of Vancouver says the program’s rigour and site visits were a big draw for her.
Clearly in his element, Enbridge Professor of Energy Policy Joseph Doucet fuels discussion on the bus. “Everything is more and more global. Conversely, that means that local issues can have global implications. Look at fair trade coffee; someone in Vancouver or Calgary who demands fair trade coffee will impact labour practices in Brazil.”
He notes energy markets everywhere have different preoccupations – financial, environmental, transportation, fuel prices among them. Bringing the group to Europe enables them to explore opportunities as well as Europe’s commonalities and contrasts with Canada and Alberta.
“Our future leaders, not just in business but in politics and civil society, have to be in tune with the global phenomena as well as in touch with local stakeholders when they think about local projects – whether it’s a new gas pipeline in the Mackenzie Valley or an offshore project in Newfoundland,” says Doucet. “What do we have to do to get these projects developed, to get the social licences to move them forward?” he asks provocatively. At a site visit at E.ON – Europe’s largest utility provider – part-time student, mining engineer and EPCOR employee Derrick Hollman marvels at E.ON’s scope and scale.
E.ON, which serves nearly 1.2 million customers each day, aims to be the world’s leading power and gas company. Its appetite for talent is not lost on the Canadians.
The MBA candidates strut their stuff, delivering presentations on topics ranging from oil sands management, coal gasification and royalty regimes to biofuels, renewable energy technologies and corporate responsibility. In turn, students from Germany’s Aachen University share insight on smart metering, geothermal energy resources, energy efficient buildings and indoor climate systems.
U of A alumni and ’06 MBA Trevor Nichol has business on his mind. The part owner of The Growing Power Group, an Alberta-based company that operates one of the world’s largest biofuels plants, discusses potential involvement in the E.ON Energy Research Institute, a massive partnership initiative led by E.ON and Aachen University.
In Cologne, ’07 MBA Wilson Howe, a Suncor Energy project manager, is captivated by the German Aerospace Centre’s outdoor solar test facilities.
In Munich, a visit to government offices of the Environment, Economy and Health illuminates important peripheral issues. A visit to Siemens held special meaning for student Adessji Rabiu, who worked as an IT specialist for Siemens in Toronto before joining the program.
Throughout the journey, the delegates forge relationships with one another and influential people they meet along the way. Albrecht Hallbauer, ’73 MBA, is one of them. A former University of Mannheim professor, Hallbauer, who holds a PhD in Business, leads a company that produces lubricants for the oil and gas industry.
At a nearby schnitzel house, Karl Funke graciously greets the delegates. The ’87 MBA is president and CEO of Bavariabased Multitest, one of the world’s leading makers of test handling equipment for semiconductors. The conversation over Bavarian cuisine and brew flows, intensifying as the topic turns to how the world will meet its energy challenges.
In Brussels, the tour concludes with discussions with European Union officials including Graeme Preston, principal administrator for the Directorate General Energy and Transport responsible for EU/North America relations. “How cleanly, safely and competitively we will be able to meet future energy requirements is one of this century’s greatest challenges,” says Doucet.
Back in Alberta, Doucet reflects, “All of our grads are prepared for traditional MBA leadership roles. But because of trips like this and the courses involved in the specialization, and their personal interests, a lot of the MBAs will choose the energy and resource environmental sectors. Their options truly are global.”