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EDUCATION UPDATE

PJVA/MRC Joint Venture Certificate Program

Brian Van Maarion, Director, Academic Education

Well, it continues to be exciting times for the PJVA/MRC Certificate Program. We have finalized the development of five of the six courses, with the sixth to be finalized by mid-March 2007. We have offered Introduction to the Petroleum Industry: An Integrated Approach, Joint Venture Analyst 1, Joint Venture Administration, Joint Venture Agreements and Joint Venture Analyst 2. Attendance has been far higher than expected, to the point where additional classes were added. A Joint Venture Analyst 3 course will be offered in April 07.

For the most part, it has been fun and highly successful, though not without some stressful times. The program took on a life of its own in late spring 2005 with the execution of our Development Agreement with MRC. Last spring, PJVA executed the Delivery and Maintenance agreement with MRC, committing to a five-year alliance with Mount Royal College.

During the delivery of the courses, we have learned from our students and have developed an appreciation for their talent and knowledge base. We have implemented processes to ensure the course material is accurate and have set up specific groups of senior Joint Venture Individuals to review all exam questions. The program continues to evolve, thanks to those who have expressed their concerns. On a very positive note, five students obtained their Joint Venture Administration Certificate in June 2006. These individuals have hung in there through thick and thin and have used their credit for previous courses, along with taking some of the new courses, to progress to the graduation point. They were recognized at the MRC Graduation Ceremony on June 29.

Further, it is anticipated that there will be upwards of 55 individuals who will be in a position to graduate in June 2007 with both the Administration and Analyst Certificates. These students will be recognized at the MRC Graduation Ceremony in June 2007.

On a personal note, as PJVA Academic Education Director, I would like to thank the individuals from the Steering Committee (Rein Evelein, Kevin Milner, Marcel Savoie and Raymond Evans) that have played the role of point person in the development of the Certificate Program courses and all of the subject matter experts who volunteered their time and knowledge towards the development of this high profile and successful Certificate Program. Also, a thanks goes to the folks from MRC (Shannon Matt and Bill Bunn). Last, but not at all least, the students - all those who have stayed true and have continued to support the role of the Petroleum Joint Venture Association and my efforts to provide a program to assist them in the development of their individual careers.


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