In 2008, at a ceremony attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy
and South African President Thabo Mbeki, the CEOs of French nuclear
firm, Areva, and the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa)
signed an agreement that would see Areva’s support for engineering and
nuclear skills development extended and increased for the benefit of the
South African engineering and nuclear industries.

In support of this agreement ARECSA, through its partnership with
AREVA and North West University (NWU), has started to provide this
year a course on Nuclear Project Management. The course is relevant for
the nuclear industry particularly at a time when the industry is expected
to undertake several projects for growth. The training which targets local
nuclear industry employees started on 13 May 2009 at Necsa and was
attended by 33 people. It is offered at Masters level and students can
receive up to 16 academic credits if they wish to pursue Masters in
Nuclear Science and Engineering at the University. The course which
is offered over an 8-week period also involves E-learning. During the
course real life experience is shared by experts from AREVA and the
high level of expertise on projects management and standards expected
in the nuclear industry.