The Executive Master in Energy marks 20th anniversary, and mirrors energy’s new role in politics

For 20 years, BI Norwegian Business School and IFP School have collaborated to run the Executive Master of Management in Energy. As the programme community gathered in Paris to mark the anniversary, the milestone highlights just how much the industry has evolved. Launched two decades ago with a focus primarily on oil and gas, the degree has transformed into a strategic management programme covering the entire energy value chain, from renewables and power markets to emerging technologies.

Energy as a geopolitical tool

"Geopolitics today is geo-economics, and energy has become a central strategic instrument," says Nick Sitter, Professor of Political Economy at BI and an expert on energy geopolitics. “A few years ago, the primary focus shifted heavily towards sustainability and the green transition. Today, geopolitical tensions and rising costs have put energy security and profitability back at the top of the agenda. Energy leaders now have to balance security, sustainability and profitability – what we call the energy trilemma.”

Nick Sitter, Professor at BI.

Sitter notes that industry leaders can no longer view energy solely as a commercial commodity. "Energy is an instrument of statecraft, serving as a cause of conflict, a revenue source, and/or an instrument of war – a weapon or target. Managing this reality requires sound risk assessment and resilient leadership. Choosing between self-sufficiency and global interdependence is a false binary; the real challenge is understanding how to manage both."

Combining technical and business expertise

With over 560 alumni worldwide, the executive programme gathers experienced professionals with an average of 12 to 15 years of work experience. Structured across five hybrid modules in Oslo and Paris, the cohort is highly international, regularly representing up to 20 nationalities from regions including the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Europe.

The programme connects technical engineering insights with commercial strategy, helping senior managers, engineers, and public sector officials transition into broader executive roles.

Egil Matsen, President of BI.

“As the energy sector becomes increasingly complex, bridging academic depth with real-world business context is vital,” says Egil Matsen, President of BI. “Celebrating 20 years of collaboration with IFP School is a great milestone. By pairing BI’s expertise in economics and management with IFP School’s industrial leadership expertise, we’ve built an exceptional programme for energy executives worldwide.”

Two decades of collaboration

The joint structure continues to give participants a comprehensive view of the industry by bridging academia and practical industry insight.

Arash Farnoosh, Professor and Scientific Advisor to the Dean at IFP School.

“Not only are the two institutions, IFP School and BI, highly complementary in terms of their expertise, but the same is true of the participants' backgrounds. The program brings together professionals from all continents with diverse academic and professional profiles, including engineering, natural and social sciences, economics, business, and law. This diversity is one of the program’s greatest assets and a key factor behind its success, fostering rich exchanges of perspectives, experiences, and approaches to complex energy and sustainability challenges,” says Arash Farnoosh, Professor and Scientific Advisor to the Dean at IFP School.