Master - Semester 2

EP903: Energy
DS905: Management of the public sector and defense
RS971: Master thesis SSMW

EP903: Energy

Mandatory courses
 

Course holder:
Major Dr. Ir Maarten VERGOTE (3 ECTS)
Assistants:
Captain-Commandant Ir Johan BUERMANS
ECTS: 3
Contact hours:
Class: 19 Hr; practice: 12 Hr
Evaluation:
Daily work: number of written evaluations: 1
Daily work: number of oral evaluations: 0
Daily work: weight of the different evaluations: uniform repartition
Weight factor for the daily work: 10.0
Weight factor for the exam: 20.0
Exam type: written

Content (EP903 - Energy)
By means of actual numbers, we introduce the course with an overview of the energy problem of the world. Sustainability, renewability and other important phenomena like global warming, acid rain, etcetera, are cited one-by-one.

The world nowadays relies very much on energy to satisfy its actual material needs. The tendency is that in the future, the importance of energy will only grow for the next generations. Whether the energy needs are in terms of transport, heat or electricity, the analysis of the problem is addressed in the lectures.

The discussion is based on the physical laws of conserved quantities from applied mechanics and thermodynamics. The transformation of the different primary energies into final energy forms available on the market is subdivided into different chapters: fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear energy. The principles behind all major conversion processes are explained and discussed, as well as future applications, new trends and opportunities. For most conversions, the energy efficiency is computed and possible savings estimated, without hiding social and environmental aspects.

Learning outcomes (EP903 - Energy)

• Understanding of extensive subject matter in the field of Social and Military Sciences
• Applying relevant and valid information to devise arguments, solve complex problems, formulate recommendations, or make decisions in the field of Social and Military Sciences
• Thinking critically and acting scientifically: formulating a judgement on the grounds of critical thinking and an evidence-based approach
• Thinking and acting ethically: giving a sound vision including a reflection on the social and ethical responsibilities

Goals (EP903 - Energy)
At the end of the course, the student is able to:

• Compare and explain the different energy conversion schemes (primary to final energy) for the most important converters based on fossil fuel, nuclear energy and renewables
• Implement Carnot’s model to estimate the footprint (primary energy) of a certain consumed quantity of final energy produced by a thermodynamic cycle
• Check and criticize whether a way of producing final energy is ethically correct
• Organize the own consumption of final energy in order to increase the sustainability

Prerequisites (EP903 - Energy)
This course uses topics that are treated in the following courses:

• Ma SSMW (Mandatory courses) (Sem 1) EP901 Propulsion of military platforms
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 1) SC611 Fundamentals of mathematics
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 2) SC621 Applied mathematics
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 2) SC623 Theoretical mechanics
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 2) SC624 Electricity

The course EP903 is not mentioned as a prerequisite for other courses

Course material (EP903 - Energy)

• Slides (electronic or printed)
• Course notes (electronic or printed)

References (EP903 - Energy)

Didactic means (EP903 - Energy)

• Teach
• Closed task

Lectures (19 Hrs) and guided exercises (12 Hrs)

DS905: Management of the public sector and defense

Mandatory courses
 

Course holder:
Lieutenant-Colonel MAB/BAM Dr. Hans DE SMET (6 ECTS)
Assistants:
Lieutenant Lic. Sven VANHENGEL
ECTS: 6
Contact hours:
Class: 30 Hr; practice: 30 Hr
Evaluation:
Daily work: number of written evaluations: 2
Daily work: number of oral evaluations: 0
Daily work: weight of the different evaluations: 50% - 50%
Weight factor for the daily work: 20.0
Weight factor for the exam: 40.0
Exam type: oral with a written part or a written preparationOral with a written part or a written preparation
Useful information related to the exam: exam = group work (3 to 4 persons) with written (the paper) and oral (presentation of the paper) part (equal weight)

Content (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)
The most important premise of this course is that public administration, and consequently public management matters. There is a tendency among the public to equate politics and governments only with recurrent events (e.g. elections) and with visible conflicts between politicians that generally shape major political and policy developments. These developments and the resulting activities are indeed important for governing a society, but there is a massive amount of activity involved in translating major decisions, expressed in laws and decrees, made by politicians into action, and in delivering public programs or services to citizens. Legislatures and political executives may pass all the laws they wish, but unless public managers and public administration execute those laws effectively, little or nothing will actually happen.
Politicians have the general duty and responsibility to take various decisions to govern a society, i.e. to allow a society to function properly. In this course, we study the different levels that intervene in the global process of public management and public administration.
In the first chapter, we elaborate on the concept of politics. We define the concept, starting with an etymological definition and a brief historical overview. Then we go deeper into the issue of political ideologies. Next, we concentrate on the notion of democracy and explore how civilians can participate in political life.
After having introduced some important issues related to political science, we deal with public governance in the second chapter. We start with elucidating the notion ‘state’ as the most important form of polity and political organization, and then further discuss two of the three basic organizations in a modern state: the parliament and the government. We end the chapter by introducing the basic principle of budgetary law.
The third chapter deals with the bureaucratic executive branch (i.e. public administration, public managers and public servants). We first discuss the role of public administration in governing. Then we concentrate on the theories about public administration, and finally we give some reflections about the roles of public servants and the interactions between public servants and politicians.
In the fourth chapter, we explain the Belgian case. We will go deeper into the creation of the Belgian federal state as we currently know it and the impact of the most important state reforms on the functioning of the Belgian society. We then comment on the most important administrative reforms at federal level and end the chapter with a description of the public sector in Belgium.
In the final chapter of the course, we first elucidate the theoretical concepts with regard to internal control (i.e. the ICS-framework). We then outline the Belgian legal framework and finally clarify the ICS-step-by-step plan, using a concrete example of the Belgian Defense.

Learning outcomes (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)

• Understanding of extensive subject matter in the field of Social and Military Sciences
• Applying relevant and valid information to devise arguments, solve complex problems, formulate recommendations, or make decisions in the field of Social and Military Sciences
• Applying language and communication skills efficiently: communicating in writing his/her conclusions, knowledge, and the rationale underpinning these
• Applying language and communication skills efficiently: communicating orally his/her conclusions, knowledge, and the rationale underpinning these
• Thinking critically and acting scientifically: gathering information with a critical and evidence-based approach
• Thinking critically and acting scientifically: elaborating a research question with a critical and evidence-based approach
• Thinking critically and acting scientifically: formulating a judgement on the grounds of critical thinking and an evidence-based approach
• Working with people as an individual or in a group: adapting to individual human behavior and group dynamics

Goals (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)
After completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• Understand, interprete and evaluate in an objective and critical way publications and media coverage about politics, public governance, public administration and the typical Belgian case -historically and current evolution (including those about Defense)
• Conceptual knowledge of terms, currents and theories of public management
• Drafting of a report and oral presentation about the public administration and public governance of a municipality and apply the risk management concepts of Internal Control on a municipality project

Prerequisites (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)
This course uses topics that are treated in the following courses:

• Ba 2 SSMW (Sem 1) DR614 Principles of law
• Ba 3 SSMW (Sem 1) DS814 Introduction to management
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 1) RS619 Critical thinking

The course DS905 is not mentioned as a prerequisite for other courses

Course material (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)

• Manual (made available)
• Slides (electronic or printed)
• Course notes (electronic or printed)
• Articles

References (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)

• Devos, C. (2012). Wat is Politiek? In C. Devos (Ed.), Een plattegrond van de macht. Inleiding tot politiek en politieke wetenschappen. (Tweede herziene ed., pp. 17-40). Gent: Academia Press
• Devos, C., Bouteca, N., Ossenblok, K., & Moens, P. (2017). Belgisch federalisme. Gent: Academia Press
• Heene, A. (2005). Copernicus en Beter Bestuurlijk Beleid: modellen voor hervorming van publieke organisaties. Gent: Universiteit Gent
• Heywood, A. (2013b). Politics. (4th revised ed.) London: Palgrave Macmillan
• Holzer, M. & Schwester, R. W. (2016). Public Administration. An Introduction. (Second ed.) New York: Routledge
• Van Hooland, B. (2003). Nieuw Publiek Management. Van Bestuurskunde tot Copernicus. Gent: Academia Press

Didactic means (DS905 - Management of the public sector and defense)

• Teach
• Educational conversation
• Class conversation
• Closed task
• Open task

RS971: Master thesis SSMW

Course holder:
DEAO (18 ECTS)
Other teachers:
Thesis supervisor and second reader
ECTS: 18
Evaluation:
Evaluation by thesis supervisor (3 one of which is for the research process), second reader (2) and jury (1)

Content (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)
Ref: P-RMA-105

The Master Thesis (MAT) is a written work that is also defended orally and with which the student, under the supervision of a supervisor, demonstrates that he has reached the final objective levels of the curriculum.

The student analyzes responsibly a complex issue and provides it with an original solution and commentary, prepares a written report of this analysis in a clear, well-founded and convincing manner, presents it to a jury and defends it against critical questions.

The subject of the master´s thesis should be chosen within a department of the SSMW- or POL-faculty. The student conducts an independent and creative research that is substantively relevant for the field and for Defense.

Learning outcomes (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)

• Understanding of extensive subject matter in the field of Social and Military Sciences
• Applying relevant and valid information to devise arguments, solve complex problems, formulate recommendations, or make decisions in the field of Social and Military Sciences
• Applying language and communication skills efficiently
• Thinking critically and acting scientifically
• Working with people as an individual or in a group
• Acting autonomously
• Collaborating in a multidisciplinary environment
• Thinking and acting ethically

Goals (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)
The MAT consists of a written and an oral part.

With the MAT, the student demonstrates that he / she can:

• Elaborate a research project
• Collect independently information and assess its relevance for answering the research questions
• Monitor independently and analyze developments in the research domain
• Communicate in a scientifically correct language
• Use modern and adapted methods and / or techniques
• Analyze critically the results obtained and their interpretation
• Report and defend the results in a coherent whole
• Summarize the previous relevant studies so that the reader is informed about the current situation in the relevant domain
• Respect the ethical rules when conducting the research

With the oral defense before the jury, the student shows that he / she can:

• Present the MAT in a fascinating and structured way
• Critically justify the research conducted, the results and the conclusions

Prerequisites (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)
In addition, it is desirable that the student has relevant prior knowledge in the domain of the chosen department

This course uses topics that are treated in the following courses:

• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 2) CL618 Academic presentation skills
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 1) RS619 Critical thinking
• Ba 1 SSMW (Sem 2) RS620 Research methods
  Ba 3 SSMW (Sem 2) RS827 Bachelor thesis

Course material (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)
TBD, in agreement with thesis supervisor

References (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)
TBD, in agreement with thesis supervisor

Didactic means (RS971 - Master thesis SSMW)

• Open task