photographed by Michaela Nespěchalová

Interview with Hedvika Koďousková - associate professor, Department of International Relations and European Studies, teaching in the master´s program Energy Policy Studies

Interviewed by Priya, April 2024

1. How did you start your academic career, and what is your field of focus?

My academic career was strongly influenced by my master's thesis supervisor, Associate Professor Břetislav Dančák, and one of my current great colleagues, Filip Černoch. At the time I was about to finish my master's thesis, Mr. Dančák suggested a greater focus on energy security and the establishment of a dedicated team for that purpose. He invited me to be part of this team. I remember a funny story from that time: I was laughing with one of my friends who wanted to pursue a PhD and study forever until she retired. After several days, I called her and told her that I was also going to pursue a PhD and continue with my academic career. Looking back, I think this was one of the best decisions of my life. During the first year of my PhD studies, we received a substantial grant co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Czech Republic national budget, allowing us to open two master's degree programs—one for Czech students and the other for foreigners, taught in English. It was really exciting, and the program's initial focus gradually evolved. From energy security, we soon also covered other issues like energy access and environmental sustainability. We designed the programs to be interdisciplinary, covering not just policies but also business, law, and technical issues to provide a broad perspective for our students regarding their future careers. Regarding the second part of your question about my focus, it has evolved. Previously, my research mainly revolved around the geopolitics and energy policies of China and India, among other emerging energy players in Asia. Although their policies are globally important, I later felt a strong desire to focus on topics more directly related to Czech society, where I believed I could be most helpful. That's why I now focus on complex energy-social relations, and surprisingly, I find myself researching many issues I learned during my undergraduate studies in sociology. In the last five years, I have been researching energy poverty, vulnerability, and justice.

2. What made you interested in energy poverty and energy justice specifically?

I've always been interested in the intersection of household well-being and energy policies, making this a logical outcome of my interest. I aim to bring attention to the inequalities in access that exist in the Czech Republic. Energy poverty has not been widely acknowledged in the Czech Republic, but the situation has evolved significantly after the energy crisis, which pushed many households into energy poverty or increased their vulnerability. This issue definitely deserves attention.

3. What has been the most exciting project in your career?

I've been part of many research projects so far. I can mention two from the previous part of my academic career. We used to focus mainly on Russian and Chinese energy policies and assessed diversification options of natural gas towards Europe. But the most exciting one is most probably also from the last five years. It focused on the transformation of the district heating sector in the Czech Republic. It was really exciting. We were asked to assess the social impact of the transformation. For example, if the district heating system has to be transformed, The question was if the population in a respective municipality would be able to cover the higher heating prices because of the system modernization, for example, or if the population would be able to invest in decentralized heating sources if needed. So this was really interesting for me because we developed Energy vulnerability index and assessed the situation in Czech municipalities over 5000 inhabitants where these large district heating systems can be expected. And the results were very interesting because we revealed what we called, "diverse energy vulnerability pathways", meaning that the situation is definitely not the same in Czech municipalities and that some of them are much more vulnerable than the others and that you know the vulnerability is typically a combination of various factors. So currently, we are further building the Index, and I also have to say that it's quite challenging for me because, for the first time, I'm in the position of project manager, so I also have to delve into the issues which are outside of my expertise because, I would qualify myself as a qualitative researcher, but very often I have to go into quantitative data mainly to interpret results stemming from quantitative data. Fortunately, I have a really great team and I have a really great colleague, an expert in analysis of quantitative data, so I'm very happy working on that topic with my great team.

4. Can you elaborate on your research on energy poverty in the Czech Republic?

Energy poverty is defined as the lack of socially and materially necessitated levels of domestic energy services. I would highlight two features from my research. First of all, Czech Republic did really well in terms of the overall data or statistics based on energy poverty conventional indicators, at least before the energy crisis. But when we delve more into national statistics, we found out that there's a specific strata or part of the population who suffers from energy poverty to a large extent. It is crucial to look beyond national data, as it often masks the specific features of the problem. And secondly, I guess we tend to focus on energy poverty or households who are already in a situation of energy poverty, but very often, energy vulnerability also matters. In the Czech Republic, a much larger part of the population is vulnerable, which means that they are on edge and can easily fall into the same conditions when circumstances change. And that was very visible during the energy crisis. Probably, you remember rising prices in autumn 2021 and the bankruptcy of many alternative energy providers. I guess that about 1,000,000 customer sites were affected, meaning that although large part of the population came through the situation quite easily, others were heavily affected and fell into energy poverty, or saw their difficulties aggravated by the crisis. So my point would be that if we do not, prepare policies and we do not recognise or if we misrecognized the problem we are then less prepared. From my perspective that was exactly the situation during the energy crisis, when the state seemed to only look for a solution when a lot of households actually already suffered energy poverty. So, focus not just on the problem alleviation but also on the problem prevention.

5. What is your favourite course to teach?

I enjoy teaching several courses, including energy and society, energy poverty, and energy policies in Asia. In the upcoming year, I'll also be involved in an energy security course. However, my favourite course to teach is Energy in Society. It's an introductory course that serves well for newcomers, but also those who are undecisive about the topic of their diploma theses. The course explores cross-cutting issues like energy security, energy consumption, energy and climate, energy controversies and conflicts, and energy transition. One particularly memorable lecture involves students writing essays about coping with a 24-hour blackout. This exercise highlights the critical role of energy in our lives and the complex systems behind seemingly simple actions like switching on a light. The course emphasizes the interconnectedness of energy with social factors and climate change.

6. What optional course would you recommend?

I believe students should choose courses that align with their future career goals. We offer a diverse range of optional courses, and you can even choose courses from other faculties. Take advantage of these options to build your field of interest and prepare for your desired career path. While Energy Poverty is a valuable course, the best choice depends on your individual goals.

7. What is the most fascinating thing about the Energy Policy Studies program, and why should someone considering it apply?

Given the essential role of energy in our lives, you can't go wrong with studying Energy Policy Studies. Energy policy intersects with various other policy areas, making it a crucial aspect. Our program is interactive, interdisciplinary, and international, allowing you to learn from diverse experiences. We're also proud to offer a double degree program with the University of Trento in Italy, combining energy policy studies with a broader understanding of international relations and European affairs. This double degree broadens the already comprehensive perspective offered by our program.

8. What are the career prospects for graduates of the Energy Policy Studies program?

Our graduates find jobs quite easily in various sectors. These include government offices and ministries, energy regulatory authorities, analytical and consulting companies, the non-profit sector, news media, and academia. The pervasiveness of energy across various sectors ensures ample opportunities for graduates to find fulfilling careers.

9. Do you have a message for current and future students?

My message is to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by this program. Just as my undergraduate studies in sociology became unexpectedly relevant to my current research, you never know when the knowledge you gain will prove valuable in your future career. Therefore, students should enjoy their studies and make the most of them, fully engaging with the program to prepare for a successful career in the field. So, enjoy your studies and make the most of them!

You can listen to this interview also on Spotify.