The topic of this seminar is digitalization for green energy transitions.

Students will learn about the strategic role of digitalization for transforming the complex energy sector to achieve greater efficiency and environmental sustainability. Beginning with an introductory overview of the energy industry, students will develop an understanding of the contributions of information systems in shaping the future of energy production, distribution, and conservation from a business perspective. 

The seminar will guide students through the process of developing a final paper and presentation that analyzes existing or emerging information systems applications critical for green energy transitions. More broadly, students will develop insights that can help transform large legacy industries, such as energy, that are key players in meeting digital and green transition goals.

To learn more about the importance of this topic, please refer to: https://www.iea.org/energy-system/decarbonisation-enablers/digitalisation

By the end of this seminar, students will:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the strategic role of digitalization within the energy sector, given the complex interplay between technological advancements, business needs, regulatory requirements, and societal goals.
• Develop the skills to identify digital solutions for green transition challenges.
• Enhance the ability to critically engage with different resources and apply them to develop research, analysis, and synthesis skills.
• Gain deeper insights and build expertise into the specific area of information systems in energy businesses that they choose to explore for the seminar paper
• Advance academic skills in crafting well-researched, analytically rigorous papers, developing conclusions, and presenting results

Standard FS (=”Forschungsseminar”) attendance policy applies. Attendance in the first unit and overall for 80% of the time is required. Attendance in the first unit is mandatory (unqualified absence will result in deregistration from the course). For more information on the WU FS attendance policy please refer to https://www.wu.ac.at/studierende/mein-studium/bachelorguide/lv-und-pruefungsinfos/forschungsseminar-fs

See below for the mandatory attendance policy in the first unit.

This seminar will combine a series of interactive lectures with in-class discussions on key topics and case studies linked to digitalization and energy. Course resources will include reports and news articles with current trends as well as academic research, thereby combining theory with practice for critical assessments of seminar topics. After an introduction to the applications of information systems in energy and the challenges and opportunity in simultaneously meeting digitalisation and green transition goals for energy businesses, students will choose a topic and discuss it critically through a seminar paper and an in-class presentation.

• Class participation (10%)
• Term paper proposal (10%)
• Term paper draft (20%)
• Presentation (20%)
• Final paper (40%)

Successful completion of course 1 (“Basics of ICT” / “Grundzüge der IKT”) of the SBWL Business Information Systems.

It is strongly recommended to also have completed course 2 to 4 of the SBWL before commencing with this course.

If you hold a valid registration for the course but are unable to participate, please deregister during the open registration period in LPIS. Your spot can be granted to other fellow students.

Spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis during the registration period.

After completion of the registration period, available spots will be allocated to students on the waiting list who have no valid registration for the relevant curricula's point. Students will be ranked by their study progress as determined by the vice rectorat for teaching ("hardship principle"), not by their rank on the waiting list.

Important Note: Participation in the first unit is mandatory; students who fail to come to forfeit their place to students on the waiting list (in the sequence of the waiting list). Students can excuse themselves if the reason for missing the first unit is serious and will concern only the first unit.

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