Former Taoiseach launches new MSc in sustainable energy finance

3 Jul 2012

Brian McMahon, manager, Summit Finuas Network; Arlene Allen, MD, BNY Mellon Ireland, who is enrolled for the MSc; Deirdre Barnicle, Solicitor, McCann Fitzgerald, who is enrolled for the MSc; Tracey Donnery, Finuas programme manager, Skillnets

Ireland’s former Taoiseach John Bruton has today launched a new MSc in sustainable energy finance course at Dublin City University (DCU). The course, which will start in September, will aim to equip finance and related professionals with the skills to meet the challenges of a global transition to a low carbon economic model.

Ireland’s former Taoiseach John Bruton officially launched the new master’s course today.

Bruton, who also served as the Ambassador of the European Union to the US between 2004 and 2009, is currently president of the IFSC Ireland.

Bruton launched the MSc in sustainable energy finance at the Convention Centre Dublin, which claims to be the world’s first carbon neutral convention centre.

The new MSc in sustainable energy finance has been developed by DCU Business School in alliance with the financial services sector through the Summit Finuas Network. It is funded by the enterprise-led training agency Skillnets.

Already DCU has run a graduate certificate in sustainable energy finance – apparently a first of its kind for the country. According to the Green IFSC, which was set up to help promote Ireland as a world-leading centre of excellence for green finance, both courses are central to its education and talent strategy to help drive Ireland’s emergence as a global leader in green finance. 

 Speaking at the launch of the programme, John Bruton said the opportunity for Ireland in green or environmental finance is “huge”.

“Investment in green finance activities globally has increased to a record US$263bn in 2011, up 6.5pc from 2010 levels, and it’s estimated to continue to grow dramatically in the years ahead,” he said.

Bruton went on to add how Ireland needs to be ready for future growth in the green finance area. He said it was great to see the collaboration between industry and the education providers facilitated by the Summit Finuas Network. 

Both the certificate and MSc programme will be taught in DCU Business School by academics and industry experts.

The MSc in sustainable energy finance will be a part-time programme for executives who wish to develop their management and leadership skills in sustainable finance.

The aim of both courses, according to DCU, will be to provide a comprehensive overview of sustainability finance in order to support new green business streams within investment banks, professional firms working within the broader green economy and companies developing renewable products and technologies.

DCU said that the course will also provide a strong foundation in sustainability and finance for related professions such as law, engineering, project development and accounting which deal with sustainability projects and carbon management.

Paul Harris, a member of Green IFSC steering group and head of natural resources risk management at Bank of Ireland Global Markets, is co-director of the new MSc.

“These courses draw together, for the first time anywhere, the key elements of green finance in a comprehensive and practical way enabling finance executives to play a central role in the evolution of this marketplace both in Ireland and internationally,” he said today.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com