Wits, Total SA to help develop skills in Africa

Partnership objectives

Total's CEO and MD, Jean-Denis Royere says: "No one would argue against the notion that education is the foundation for sound social economic development and that much future prosperity depends on education and training to build skills and expertise. It is with this in mind that Total, in close links with our Refining and Marketing division in Paris, decided to select Wits University as our South African partner. Our objectives are to develop local social actions that are coherent with our business, improve relations with a place of higher learning, improve the quality of the recruitment endeavours of African students and graduates, offer opportunities to Total employees and selected students from our host African countries to improve on their level of education and training, and to learn and derive mutual benefit from this partnership."

Wits, research-driven

Wits was selected because, "it is also a research-driven higher education institution teaching in all fields of expertise relevant to Total, including Geosciences. The university is perfectly structured to handle international
students in a safe environment and it is ready to offer specific or customised programmes for our employees and students," adds Royere.

Wits Professor Yunus Ballim, deputy vice chancellor: academic adds: "This partnership is making a broad and bold statement on Africa and its needs. It is about Africa contributing and making its voice heard in ways that will
make the world sit up and listen. At Wits, we endeavour to develop strategic partnerships that will stimulate the intellectual project and innovation, which in turn will benefit development in South Africa, and on the continent."

Adam Hunter
011 022 9711
071 178 7035
adam@mbpublicity.co.za