Energy firm GDF Suez Exploration and Production (E&P) UK is sponsoring a course at Aberdeen University to boost oil and gas education.
The £40,000 funding will be enough to run the operations geology programme, core to masters degrees in hydrocarbon exploration and integrated petroleum geology, for three years.
GDF Suez E&P UK said its funding pledge underlined the North Sea operator’s commitment to education in the sector.
Area development manager Stewart Easton added: “It is important for us to have ties with local academic institutions to support the next wave of entrants to our industry.
“The operations geology short course is the only one of its kind in the UK and we are proud to continue our support.
“It provides specialised teaching in operations geology, which is crucial to exploration and production – and the energy industry going forward.”
Stuart Archer, director of exploHUB, a training centre based at the university that focuses on hydrocarbon exploration, said: “We need funding to allow us to bring in the industry recognised experts to deliver courses such as operations geology.
“We are delighted to have developed a longstanding strategic partnership with GDF Suez E&P UK which allows us to sustain the course as part of the curriculum.”