A group of 35 young nuclear professionals completed the 6th Japan-IAEA Joint Nuclear Energy Management (NEM) School this month, bringing the total number of graduates trained for managerial position from this regional school to 205, since its first edition in 2012. During the two and half-week programme held in Tokyo and Fukushima Prefecture, participants from 17 Member States around the world broadened their knowledge of diverse nuclear related topics, in the classroom and in the field.
“Qualified human resources are vital if we are to ensure that nuclear energy is used safely, securely and sustainably,” said Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. “This school is a great opportunity to learn more about a wide range of topics related to nuclear energy, but also build strong professional networks.”
As a practical element of the School, the participants visited Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). This gave them a valuable insight into the damage caused by the massive tsunami in 2011 as well as into continued progress of remediation activities. For the first time, the programme included a visit to nearby Fukushima Daini, a memorable experience for the students who had never been to an NPP before. They also visited the Iwaki-city facility for radiation monitoring of locally produced agricultural products, a practice introduced after the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
“As future managers, we should always keep in mind that the local residents living near the nuclear power stations may worry about their wellbeing in case of a nuclear accident,” said one of the students. “This programme gave me confidence that we can contribute to improving safety.”
On the margins of the School, the IAEA signed Practical Arrangements with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), and the JAIF International Cooperation Center (JICC). The Practical Arrangements formalize cooperation in the area of nuclear human resource development, including knowledge management, education, training and outreach. The JAEA, JAIF and JICC serve as secretariats of the Japan Nuclear Human Resource Development Network and also collaborate with the IAEA as the NEM School organizers, together with the National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College and the University of Tokyo.
