Texas MBA: Energy The Texas MBA team defeated teams from 15 other top business schools in the second annual Renewable Energy Case Challenge in 2011.
“EMIC employs an integrative approach to energy issues, offering energy-related curriculum, hosting conferences to promote honest debate about energy policy and practice, and disseminating information on a variety of energy topics.” Sheridan Titman, Professor of Finance and Executive Director of the Energy Management and Innovation Center (EMIC)
The University of Texas at Austin does more energy research than any other university in the world. As the industrialization of the third world continues and the world’s population grows, global energy demand is expected to surge. Even in the U.S., new energy sources and replacement of infrastructure will require that 50% of U.S. capital expenditures in the coming years will be energy-related: power plants, transmission, oil and gas rigs, pipelines, etc. At McCombs, we are uniquely positioned to discuss the valuation, financing and hedging of these projects, as well as issues related to accounting, marketing and risk management of the energy space. As our energy programs continue to grow, more students are choosing McCombs as the ideal path to careers in the emerging energy landscape.
The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business
Energy Events and Organizations UT ENERGY FORUM The annual UT Energy Forum is a student-led event bringing together leading University researchers and professors, industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and students to explore today’s most pressing energy challenges. The event includes keynote speakers and panel discussions on a variety of energy topics, ranging from oil exploration, renewable energy and innovative research that will change the outlook for our global energy landscape. http://www.utenergyforum.com SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SUMMIT This annual event is an inspiring afternoon of learning and discussion with a wide range of professionals from major corporations to small startups. Attendees are faced with leaders from some of the world’s most respected businesses and exposed to the sustainable strategies they have used to grow revenues and cut costs. Additional event elements include interactive panel discussions and networking. http://www.utsummit.org CLEANTECH GROUP The CleanTech Group is an MBA student organization whose mission is to promote an economically viable, sustainable, and “intelligent-energy” future, through the support of market and technology innovations in energy efficiency, sustainable development, renewable energy, and emissions abatement. The group serves as a hub for networking and information exchange by connecting students with the businesses, investors, and industry experts who are driving these innovations. http://www.cleantechaustin.com CLEANTECH FELLOWS The CleanTech Fellows practicum develops future leaders in the clean tech industry through direct work experience and a rigorous curriculum introducing students to the clean tech environment. Exceptional Texas MBA students with a strong interest in the clean tech industry are selected for the program, which features weekly classes, readings, guest speakers, and field trips. The students pair this experience with a two semester internship with well-established Austin clean tech firms. ENERGY FINANCE GROUP The Energy Finance Group aims to prepare MBA students to be keen financial managers and leaders of consequence in the energy industry. Some Energy Finance Group activities include coordinating site visits to energy firms and related businesses, hosting on-campus industry topic panels, and organizing the annual National Energy Finance Challenge. NATIONAL ENERGY FINANCE CHALLENGE The Energy Finance Challenge is a business case competition focused on real-life issues facing the energy industry. The event brings executives and recruiters from world-renowned companies into contact with the country’s best MBA students. The past two years Texas MBAs have defeated student teams from top programs to take first place, including: Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Wharton, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Cornell, Virginia, Michigan, UNC, Purdue, Chicago, Berkeley, Columbia, Rice, and Duke.
Resources at Your Fingertips ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION CENTER (EMIC) The McCombs School’s Energy Management & Innovation Center promotes energy-related research and instruction. EMIC offers a core of energy-specific business curriculum in accounting, finance, marketing, financial and commodity risk management and economics and geopolitical risk. The core curriculum is complemented by electives in energy technology and policy and the environment. EMIC also affords students opportunities for experiential learning with executives from the energy industry, including energy finance practicum projects, Energy 101 workshops, guest lectures and conferences. EMIC provides financial support for students’ clean tech trek to San Francisco, the Energy Finance Group trek to Houston, and a global energy trek to the Middle East. http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/centers/emic THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN’S ENERGY INSTITUTE The Energy Institute provides guidance in the pursuit of a new energy paradigm that is viable and sustainable. The Institute’s mission includes the development of interdisciplinary certificate and degree programs in energy to broaden the educational experience of students in this critical field of study. The Energy Institute also offers the UT Energy Symposium, a 15-week seminar course which convenes multi-disciplinary students to learn from energy experts on many issues, including climate change, diffusion of energy innovative technologies, low-carbon options, and the future of natural gas for the U.S. http://energy.utexas.edu ATI CLEAN ENERGY INCUBATOR (CEI) With a primary focus on electricity, the ATI Clean Energy Incubator (CEI) is one of the longest-established clean energy incubators in the United States. ATI has strong partnerships with the local electric power company, Austin Energy, and is a founding participant in the Pecan Street Project, which is running a $30 million smart grid/smart premises demonstration project in Austin. ATI is also expanding its liquid fuels service line and investing heavily in the clean energy/clean tech ecosystem in Central Texas. ATI engages students in its annual Clean Energy Venture Summit, the premier clean energy investment conference in Texas. ATI also supports the Global Venture Labs Investment Competiton for graduate students, with a specific track for clean energy technologies. http://ati.utexas.edu/entrepreneurs/focus-areas/clean-energy
“ My choice to attend McCombs was highly motivated by the strong energy-related resources: the best Energy Finance program in the country, highly active student groups like the CleanTech Group, events like the UT Energy Forum, proximity to Houston’s thriving energy industry, and the opportunity to work with classmates who share my vision of solving the world’s energy challenges.” — Patricia Varraveto, President of the CleanTech Group, MBA ‘13, pictured working at a solar installation outside the library
For more information, please contact the Texas MBA Program Office at (512) 471-7698 or visit us online at http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/full-time. Follow us @UTexasMBA