MSc Global Energy Management provides path to energy sector

Student Francisco Alvarez was given a ScottishPower-Iberdrola scholarship which enabled him to take up an offer on the MSc in Global Energy Management programme. Here, he talks about the experience so far.

I had a career as an Electromechanical Engineer but I wanted to make a transition from the Automotive Industry to the Energy Sector, firstly because I found it more interesting and secondly because I considered Energy as a basic priority, so I thought this new field could offer me more job opportunities in such an uncertain world.

I was looking for a job through LinkedIn and the call from “Scottish Power – Iberdrola Foundation Spain” popped up and that’s how my journey to Strathclyde started. The process for the ScottishPower scholarship was pretty easy to understand and straightforward – just nine easy steps to comply with - which were actually the required documents that Iberdrola Foundation was asking for in order to become eligible to apply.

It involved quite a lot of work to get through all the requirements but at the end it was worth it and really rewarding. They only selected 10 applicants from 300+ applications from all over Spain, and the scholarship covers everything - full-tuition fees and a monthly stipend for all the accommodation and transportation expenses.

As part of being awarded the scholarship, I attended a trip to Madrid along with all the other award winners. It was one of the best events I have ever attended in my life. I found it extremely inspiring and motivational thanks to the speeches made by the King of Spain and Iberdrola CEO Don Ignacio Galán.

What attracted me most about the Global Energy Management programme is its versatility in comparison to other programmes which were extremely specialised in their corresponding areas. This was particularly good for me with my background in Engineering. I wanted to have a general overview across the global energy sector and to acquire the necessary administrative skills to become a future Energy Manager. Another thing that attracted me was that the programme is very well ranked amongst the UK’s top Universities, plus the programme is accredited by the Energy Institute in London.

The programme is very well organised regarding its structure, content of material and subjects to be taught; it covers it all from a managerial perspective, ranging from energy issues related to economics, business, technologies, politics and finance, and all of this with the most recent trends across the energy sector worldwide. It has fulfilled with my expectations so far for sure.

A highlight for me is the experiences shared by the industry experts who come every Wednesday to the programme's Global Energy Forum. The forum gives you an insight into the real world and the expert’s own professional and personal experiences. It has changed my perspective and expectations when thinking about my next steps as an energy professional.

My advice to others considering the programme is make sure you know what path you want to follow because this programme is very broad and that can be a little bit overwhelming at the beginning. However, after a couple of months you start to have a better idea on the professional path you would like to follow, either working for a consultancy, government institution, academia or - why not? - venturing into launching your own energy business.

I think that the GEM programme actually opens doors across the entire energy sector. Combined with your previous undergraduate degree and the professional skills that you have, the opportunities available are extensive.

The deadline for this year’s ScottishPower Foundation scholarships is April 7. These scholarships are open to students applying for the MSc in Global Energy Management and MSc in Data Analytics courses are included. Further information and conditions available here

About Francisco Alvarez

Francisco Alvarez is a student on the MSc in Global Energy Management (GEM) programme within the Economics department.