The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and North Highland College UHI have signed up to develop and deliver training for decommissioning work at the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness.
UHI will also help staff gain the qualifications they need to transfer to other employment sectors as the site closure progresses.
The “memorandum of understanding” has been agreed with Dounreay Site Restoration, the firm responsible for the site’s clean-up and demolition.
Dounreay managing director Mark Rouse said: “Our working relationship with North Highland College UHI is a strong and successful partnership that has stood the test of time.
“We are pleased to formalise the agreement to work together with the University of the Highlands and Islands to develop and deliver training required to decommission the Dounreay site.
“As the programme is extended our staff are our biggest asset working at the heart of the nuclear industry and their knowledge and experience will be valuable to them and the local community once their careers extend beyond Dounreay.”
North Highland College UHI principal Donald MacBeath said: “All three parties to this agreement are committed to working together proactively to create new career development opportunities for our students and staff in the years ahead”.
UHI principal and vice-chancellor Clive Mulholland added: “This is an excellent partnership, showing the real difference our university can make to distinct communities but with the potential for national and international impact through research and exchange of ideas.”