Well qualified and skilled professionals in the nuclear field have always been in high demand. Today, 30 countries continue using nuclear power, and about the same number are embarking on or considering a nuclear power programme. The annual Joint ICTP-IAEA School on Nuclear Energy Management (NEM), hosted at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, was held this year from 2 to 13 November, and provided a unique international education opportunity for young nuclear professionals, particularly those from countries that seek to develop new nuclear power programmes.
"Any shortage of skilled nuclear professionals in the decades to come is a concern for safety," said Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. "The generation of those who built and led the nuclear power industry for much of the past 30 years is approaching retirement. In some countries, there are not enough students who could eventually replace them. We at the IAEA do our best to help our Member States address this concern."
During the two-week course, 43 participants from 29 countries gained essential knowledge in key areas of managing a nuclear power programme. IAEA and international experts addressed topics such as the economics of nuclear power, energy policy and energy planning, legal aspects, knowledge and human resources management, stakeholder involvement, current and advanced technologies, the nuclear fuel cycle, safety and security, safeguards and radiation protection.
This is the sixth such school the IAEA has organized jointly with ICTP since 2010. In addition, six regional schools have been held: four in Japan, primarily focused on the Asian Region; two in the United Arab Emirates for the Gulf Region; and one in the USA, targeting Latin and North America. To date, about 400 nuclear professionals have graduated from these Nuclear Energy Management (NEM) Schools.
What participants say:
"I am glad I had the chance to hear excellent lecturers who have solid experience-based views on different issues and can present us with lessons from real situations." Aysel Hasanova, Azerbaijan
"From my point of view nuclear energy is the most effective source of energy but others may consider it as a threat. It is critical to manage nuclear energy effectively to demonstrate that it can be safe. In Korea about one third of the electricity comes from nuclear. I want to be able to address the opposition's concerns professionally."
Sangho Park, Republic of Korea
"I would like to clearly understand the role based management in nuclear power. Often we do not understand which knowledge is critical for which role. For that, I need the overview the Nuclear Energy Management School provides." Diana Narducci, Argentina.
"I found all lectures very interesting and professional, relevant for achieving the main goal and getting a general understanding of the nuclear energy sector." Jaroslaw Niklewicz, Poland
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