IR467 Energy Security
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Aliaksandr Novikau
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course explores the complex geopolitical, economic, and environmental dimensions of energy security in the contemporary international system. Students will examine the strategic imperatives that drive global energy markets, analyzing the interplay between security of supply, demand management, and critical infrastructure protection. The curriculum evaluates the roles of key actors, including states, international organizations, and major corporations, in shaping energy governance and facilitating the transition to renewable sources. Special emphasis is placed on the energy policies of the European Union and the unique challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, equipping students to critique existing frameworks and formulate evidence-based recommendations for regional energy resilience.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Graaf, T. van de, & Sovacool, B. K. (2020). Global Energy Politics. Polity.
Additional Literature
1. Energy roadmap 2050 2. A 10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural GasTeaching Methods
Lectures
Class discussions
Term project
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction. | – |
| 2 | What is energy? | Graaf & Sovacool 1 |
| 3 | Energy markets | Graaf & Sovacool 2 |
| 4 | Energy and security | Graaf & Sovacool 2 |
| 5 | Energy and security | Graaf & Sovacool 3 |
| 6 | Energy and economy. Quiz #1 | Graaf & Sovacool 4 |
| 7 | Energy and environment | Graaf & Sovacool 5 |
| 8 | Midterm exam | All above |
| 9 | Energy and justice | Graaf & Sovacool 6 |
| 10 | Public holiday. No class | - |
| 11 | Energy technologies and innovations | Graaf & Sovacool 7 |
| 12 | National and regional energy policies. Energy security in the EU. Quiz #2. | Graaf & Sovacool 8 |
| 13 | Energy security in BiH | TBA |
| 14 | Global energy governance | Graaf & Sovacool 9 |
| 15 | Student presentations. Conclusion. Review session | – |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR467.1 | Course | Thursday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.17 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 15:00 | B F1.5 | |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 14:00 | B F1.5 | |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 12:00 | B F1.5 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quizes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Term project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 5 7
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
36 hours ⏳ (12 week × 3 h)
Home study
36 hours ⏳ (12 week × 3 h)
Preparation for midterm exam
8 hours ⏳ (1 week × 8 h)
Term project
48 hours ⏳ (4 week × 12 h)
Preparation for final exam
14 hours ⏳ (2 week × 7 h)
Preparation for quiz
8 hours ⏳ (2 week × 4 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR467] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR467 | Energy Security | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Aliaksandr Novikau | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-15:00 Wednesday: 11:00-14:00 Thursday: 11:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| anovikau@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course explores the complex geopolitical, economic, and environmental dimensions of energy security in the contemporary international system. Students will examine the strategic imperatives that drive global energy markets, analyzing the interplay between security of supply, demand management, and critical infrastructure protection. The curriculum evaluates the roles of key actors, including states, international organizations, and major corporations, in shaping energy governance and facilitating the transition to renewable sources. Special emphasis is placed on the energy policies of the European Union and the unique challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, equipping students to critique existing frameworks and formulate evidence-based recommendations for regional energy resilience. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Graaf, T. van de, & Sovacool, B. K. (2020). Global Energy Politics. Polity. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Lectures, class discussions, term project | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction. | – | ||||||||
| Week 2 | What is energy? | Graaf & Sovacool 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Energy markets | Graaf & Sovacool 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Energy and security | Graaf & Sovacool 2 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Energy and security | Graaf & Sovacool 3 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Energy and economy. Quiz #1 | Graaf & Sovacool 4 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Energy and environment | Graaf & Sovacool 5 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | All above | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Energy and justice | Graaf & Sovacool 6 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Public holiday. No class | - | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Energy technologies and innovations | Graaf & Sovacool 7 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | National and regional energy policies. Energy security in the EU. Quiz #2. | Graaf & Sovacool 8 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Energy security in BiH | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Global energy governance | Graaf & Sovacool 9 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Student presentations. Conclusion. Review session | – | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 25 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizes | 2 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Not Allowed | |
| Term project | 1 | 30 | 5, 7 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 12 | 36 | Home study | 3 | 12 | 36 | |||
| Preparation for midterm exam | 8 | 1 | 8 | Term project | 12 | 4 | 48 | |||
| Preparation for final exam | 7 | 2 | 14 | Preparation for quiz | 4 | 2 | 8 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||