Dr Chris Hope - Viewpoint

As one of the UK’s leading MBA institutions, situated at the heart of a leading high-technology cluster, Judge Business School at Cambridge University recognises the pivotal role that the renewable energy industry can play developing economies in the UK and further afield.

At Cambridge Judge Business School, we are committed to developing the skills, expertise and capacity of high calibre business-minded individuals, and helping them to engage with initiatives such as poverty alleviation and the development of renewable energy – helping people to live sustainably around the world.

Deployed appropriately, renewable energy can make a significant difference to the lives of millions of people, underpinning progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and mitigating climate change.

As a faculty member at Cambridge Judge Business School, I believe in bringing together people from different backgrounds and applying learning across sectors. Whilst the business world has important lessons to learn from the long-term time horizons of not-for-profits, it is equally true that not-for-profits can learn from the results-based focus of business – especially in terms of meaningful results for end users.

We, at Cambridge Judge Business School are excited to be working in partnership with Renewable World – and I am particularly pleased to be supervising our first piece of collaborative work. At time of writing, Cambridge Judge Business School is providing a team of MBA students to analyse how ownership models, in particular their structure, governance and management aspects, influence the effectiveness, price structure and utilization of small scale off-grid energy sources in communities.

These findings underpin a deeper analysis of the extent to which different ownership models ultimately enable end users to undertake additional income generation and enterprise development activities.

The team has over thirty years’ experience across a broad range of relevant fields, from energy implementation, transmission and engineering to community engagement and social and economic development. Working with Renewable World and its partners the team will visit India and Nepal to conduct primary research in remote, rural villages.

This is an exceptional opportunity for the MBA students and an experience they will carry into their post-MBA professions. Renewable World works closely with renewable energy businesses, providing unique opportunities for coordinated and effective action on energy poverty and enhancement of corporate responsibility strategies.

I personally look forward to supervising the Cambridge Judge Business School team and am fascinated to see how their research will assist Renewable World in its understanding of how best to bring affordable, reliable energy to remote off-grid communities. I am eager to explore how we can strengthen the relationship between Cambridge Judge Business School and Renewable World going forward.