The distinctive feature of the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux University is the use it makes of the Group's senior managers. They will provide the knowledge and competencies needed to build a body of knowledge which all managers will then be required to disseminate around them, in their respective subsidiaries and lines of business. The University will draw together the many networks of competencies and knowledge formed by the 220,000 men and women who work for the Group in 120 countries.

The Group's cross-divisional knowledge is distinct from both general managerial learning and from competencies specific to each business line. This cross-divisional knowledge is compiled by Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux's senior managers in the course of a series of Senior Management Forums or "Semafors" (6 are scheduled for 2000).

Two thousand senior and future Group managers will attend University seminars in 2000-2001 covering five different areas, namely: sharing experience, time for thought, cross-divisional training, acquiring managerial competencies, and broadening the international intake of new managers.

In Europe, the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux University is based at Fillerval (near Beauvais, north of Paris). The University's mission will be to reach out to Group managers by decentralizing its activities worldwide, working through local initiatives where appropriate.