Since its creation 18 months ago, TotalFinaElf Professeurs Associés (TPA - TotalFinaElf Associate Teachers) has been dedicated to fostering closer ties between universities and other institutes of higher education and the oil industry. The initiative has been an overwhelming success, with more than 170 courses offered in nearly 80 areas of expertise and presentations delivered in some 40 institutes of higher education in ten countries. This desire to teach is shared by an increasing number of Company managers, with the TPA recently welcoming its one hundredth member.

> TPA welcomes its one hundredth member

2003 got off to a successful start for TPA, as the association welcomed its one hundredth member, a 33-year-old lawyer. Assigned to new responsibilities in the Company, she wants to share her labor law expertise and teaches courses to undergraduate law students at the University of Paris V. "I use my experience to present real cases that I dealt with in the business world. As outside lecturers, our work experience is of great value for students. The more real-life the example, the more students appreciate it, something I see for myself when I'm in the classroom."

> From the field to the classroom, Company experts get involved

TPA's success is driven by the commitment of current and retired TotalFinaElf employees who volunteer their services. "These managers are passionate about their jobs, and are eager to share their expertise and help students discover the many facets of careers in the oil and energy industries. The TPA association was created for them. We're here to make their lives easier," says Alain Quénelle, TPA's Voluntary Chairman and founder. The teachers are unpaid, although their travel expenses are reimbursed and they have access to the association's offices and services.

> An array of specialties to discover the diversity of careers in the energy industry

Offshore technology, geosciences, motor fuels and fuels, and polymer production are just some of the wide array of course subjects related to Company's core businesses. Other courses cover cross-disciplinary skills including crosscultural management, patent law, energy and environmental challenges, and techniques to stimulate creativity and innovation. A total of more than 170 courses on close to 80 subjects are listed on the association's website, www.totalprof.com. The offering is available to institutes of higher education worldwide, with courses already taught in more than ten countries, including Russia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. "Ninety of the courses in the catalogue are offered in English," says Alain Quénelle, who aims to expand TPA's activities outside France.