PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. Nurturing the talents of tomorrow

Transcription

1 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION Nurturing the talents of tomorrow

2 CREATING VIRTUOUS CIRCLES INTERVIEW WITH JEAN-MARC FONTAINE, Vice-President Social Business & Societal > Why does the Total Group support education projects around the world? All the projects carried out by the Group and its subsidiaries to promote education fall under the heading of a broader campaign to support social and economic development in the countries where we operate. It is the responsibility of a group like Total to promote access to knowledge by enabling children to attend school, funding school infrastructures, supporting educational programmes and pushing young people to achieve excellence. These actions targeting the youngest citizens are just the first link in the chain of Total s education policy, which extends beyond secondary school with assistance to universities and technical schools and regional and international scholarship programmes. This initiative is part of our operating excellence. > How are these projects implemented? The prerequisite for any action is a thorough understanding of the country, its needs and government projects. We cannot simply observe shortcomings and launch our own programmes, along the lines of there is no school in this village, we are going to build one. Before we get involved, we must understand the underlying logic. This can only occur through dialogue, exchange and respect for common interests and shared values. It is also essential that we ensure the sustainability and long-term viability of these projects. This means setting up agreements with local authorities. In other words, we must implement a governing structure for each project, ensuring that the oversight committees include representatives from the government, local communities and the Total subsidiary involved.

3 > What resources does the Group have to handle governance? Remember that the subsidiaries initiate and carry out the projects with support from the Group s corporate offices. To ensure our actions are professional and to better manage them, we created the CSR engineering division. The subsidiaries, corporate divisions and Group Education Division work together on all these projects. Because education issues cannot be separated from the question of Corporate Social Responsibility. > Which actions do you think are most representative of Total s commitment? The pilot classes at Lycée Augagneur in Congo are a great example. We gave that establishment additional resources to create science classes and to push its students to achieve excellence. The creation of the Eiffel secondary school network in Angola works toward the same goal: help students advance and assist them in harnessing their talent. These students will be able to participate in our scholarship programme. They will become the leaders of the country s business or will be recruited by our subsidiaries. It is definitely a virtuous circle. > And what how is Total committed to school attendance for girls? We are well aware of the situations and difficulties encountered in certain countries. However we do not want to plaster a Western model over a different reality. That would not make sense. It is imperative that we adapt to the context, the customs and the traditions and that we act accordingly with communities. Here again, we can move forward through dialogue. That was the case with Yemen, where our discussions with the women s committee eventually led us to obtain consent from the villagers to launch a project to build classrooms for girls. In the same spirit, we support the efforts of the Gbowee Peace Foundation in Liberia by awarding scholarships to its young girls so they can continue their studies. FOUR AREAS OF ACTION Promote the study of science and technology Contribute to the development of local infrastructures Raise awareness about energy issues Facilitate job placement and civic responsibility A variety of approaches actions adapted to the local situation.

4 PROMOTE THE STUDY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY As a company working extensively with technology, Total is investing in scientific and technical education. By supporting primary and secondary establishments and scientific teaching programmes, the Group encourages young people to get interested in professions that can give them a promising future and focus on careers in engineering. > Eiffel secondary school network (Angola) In 2009, Total E&P Angola and the Angola Ministry of Education opened four secondary schools with the support of the Mission Laïque Française. Each year, 200 students attend these schools and complete a course of study that meets internationally recognised teaching standards. The goal is to enable them to gain admission to the best local and international universities. > Pilot classes at Lycée Augagneur (Pointe-Noire, Congo) Total implemented and funds advanced science classes at this secondary school. Around 100 students chosen for their high potential are attending these pilot classes and receiving quality instruction. The students have access to a research lab, library, computer room and cultural and sport facilities. Pedagogical training was conducted with the teachers from the Lycée Français and the teachers at Lycée Augagneur to enable them to share best practices in teaching and to pool their experience. This pilot programme spurred the Congolese government, a major partner in the project, to replicate the experiment in several secondary schools in the country to make them schools of excellence. > Plus: in Madagascar, Total provided assistance with the construction of a secondary school and made it possible to hire a professor at the Institut Supérieur de Technologies in Antananarivo. In Gabon, Total supports the Science Rally organised by a secondary school in Libreville. Total also supports an academic competition held for primary and secondary school students in Port-Gentil and Libreville.

5 CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURES By funding the construction and renovation of school infrastructures in the countries where its subsidiaries are located, Total promotes access to education for as many children as possible. This is how the Group helps nurture the talents of tomorrow. > Russia Along with Statoil Hydro, Total co-funded the construction of a secondary school in Naryan-Mar, capital of the Nenets autonomous region. This project was conducted with the consent of local authorities who are in charge of teachers and equipment. Total also procured computers for the IT lab at a secondary school. > Argentina Since 2005, Total and its partners have supported the construction of the Los Cauquenes School in Río Grande. This provincial school was inspired by other establishments created successfully in Ushuaia. The programmes, where art classes play a major role, are intended for primary and secondary school students. They are backed by professional development training for the teachers. > Yemen In Balaf, Total built an educational structure near its area of operation. This school benefits primary and secondary school students. To successfully complete the project, which was implemented and funded 100% by the Group, Total worked closely with governmental institutions and village councils. > Myanmar The Kanbauk Educational initiative aims to provide children in the villages of the Kanbauk region, which is where Total infrastructures are located, with significant educational resources. This effort especially benefits primary and secondary school students.

6 RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ENERGY ISSUES As a worldwide leader in the energy market, the Group helps gives young people the insights they need to understand the problems, challenges and careers relating to the energy field. Thus the Group developed special kits that address energy matters in a fun, educational way. These kits are offered to teachers in primary and secondary schools. > Planet Energy In 2005, Total introduced Planet Energy, an educational initiative that offers keys to understanding all energy types for use by primary and secondary school students and their teachers. Its web site planete-energies.com explains energy topics through numerous videos and infographics. Planet Energy also offers three educational speaker programmes for students in elementary, middle and secondary school. These talks are carried out with the help of teaching experts and employees who volunteer their time and receive pedagogical training. Each year, nearly 10,000 students get to hear a Plant Energy presentation. The same programme also arranges meetings with students and teachers at trade fairs and shows. Finally, Planet Energy forges partnerships with publishers of educational material and youth magazines to offer free documentation about energy matters. > Total Solar Expert Launched in September 2011 by the New Energies division, the Total Solar Expert programme makes it possible to help young people get a better grasp on solar energy issues and renewable energy in general. Kits that conform to academic curricula and address the needs of primary and secondary school students were developed in collaboration with teachers. Some 10,000 kits have already been used. > Total Green School Awards In Great Britain, Total is raising children s awareness about environmental issues. In 2007, Total worked with the association Young People s Trust for the Environment to create the Total Green School Awards which encourage students at primary schools to take an interest in the environment in a creative way.

7 FACILITATE JOB PLACEMENT AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY > PREVENTION I In Turkey, Senegal and Gabon and in China as well, in Morocco, the Caribbean, Lebanon and Kuwait the subsidiaries of Total are supporting or initiating road safety education programmes. In Turkey, Total Oil Turkey is sponsoring the Safety For All project, an international initiative set up by Renault in over 20 countries. It has been adapted to local conditions with teachers and road safety specialists. The goal is to educate young students between 7 and 11 on road safety rules using a teaching kit approved by the National Ministry of Education. The project has already been rolled out in 30 cities and more than 600 schools. > JOB PLACEMENT I By providing practical support to education professionals, the Group hopes to help young people find their place in the world of employment. > France The Group is involved with the Engineers for School association. It creates a framework for employees to be placed on secondment with education authorities. They have three goals: to develop closer ties between the education and business worlds, to encourage students to choose scientific careers and to ease the transition into the labour market for young people. The Group renewed its partnership with the government under the new action plan for youth. Moreover, Total signed a partnership agreement with the education authorities in Paris in September The purpose of this framework agreement is promote exchanges between the company, young people and education professionals. > Morocco Total implemented and funds a partnership with local associations and schools to make young people more employable and to help them find jobs in the labour market. This initiative benefits primary and secondary school students.

8 contact us with Among our partners TOTAL S.A. Headquarters 2, Place Jean Millier La Défense Courbevoie France Tel: +33 (0) Share capital: 5,944,195,400 euros Nanterre SIREN SG / DRH / FEU / EDU I June 2014 I Design: T2BH / Paris tel. +33 (0) photos: Marco Dufour, Stephan Gladieu, Thierry Gonzalez, Marc Roussel/Total, Village de la Chimie.