The Power of Sustainable Energy

When the Gutierrez Energy Management Institute (GEMI) was founded at C. T. Bauer College of Business, initially as the Global Energy Management Institute in 2001, it was designed with a traditional energy focus in mind. Its curriculum covered oil, gas and electricity, as well as the different aspects involved in that like trading and risk management. However, as the energy industry evolved, so did the institute at Bauer.  

Over the last few years, GEMI has expanded its curriculum to support the world of energy in its transition to be more sustainable, GEMI Executive Director Greg Bean said. Program leaders have introduced a series of courses that cover topics on Energy Transition, the Business of Hydrogen and most recently, a new course called the Business of Carbon Management.  

This new course will be offered starting in Fall 2025 for both undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, GEMI will also introduce a new degree track, the Energy Commercial Track and Certificate (ECT&C) Program, available for undergraduate students in their junior year.  

The Business of Carbon Management, taught by Finance Adjunct Professor Colin Davies, is designed to teach students the fundamentals of low and no carbon energy and the economics surrounding it. Students will later apply what they’ve learned to understand emerging business models in the context of evolving carbon policy and markets.   

“The objective here is to have the students come out of the course with a well-rounded appreciation of the carbon issue and carbon in the context of energy,” Davies said. “If you look ahead over the next 10 or 20 years, companies are going to have to deal with providing energy to the world, and at the same time be a part of the solution for climate change. (Students) will be navigating this challenging push and pull of stakeholder interests.”  

Bean agreed, saying that with the push towards carbon energy management, new business opportunities will arise, and with an in-depth course like this, students are better equipped to handle them. 

Colin Davies
Adjunct Professor
Department of Finance

Greg Bean
Executive Director
Gutierrez Energy Management Institute

GEMI is doing more for students than offering advanced courses in the field of energy. They are listening to feedback from industry partners on what they are looking for when hiring new graduates.  

“We have more and more of the large energy companies that are looking to hire Bauer undergraduates,” Bean said. “While they are typically very happy with the preparation of students that come out of various degree programs, one of the things they’ve asked us is: is there a way that we can expose students to a broader set of energy-related commercial functions while they are still in school?”  

The ECT&C Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for a broad range of commercial roles in the energy industry. Students will take 18 credit hours of energy classes, choosing from the extensive curriculum already offered through GEMI. They will also participate in experiential learning opportunities through internships and part-time positions with company partners. 

“I think what this will do is formalize the credentials of our students in a new way, particularly in and around these different commercial functions,” Bean said.  

This new degree track will launch its pilot program in Fall 2025.