COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER  Accompanying the document  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL  1ST SITUATION REPORT ON EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE NUCLEAR  ENERGY FIELD IN THE EUROPEAN UNION  {COM(2011) 563 final}
Date: 2011-09-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: International Atomic Energy Agency, Joint Research Centre, Nuclear Energy Agency, continuing education, nuclear industry, project of common interest, scientific education, technical education, technical profession, university

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 16.9.2011 
SEC(2011) 1046 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 

Accompanying the document 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 

1ST SITUATION REPORT ON EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE NUCLEAR 
ENERGY FIELD IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 

{COM(2011) 563 final} 

 
 
 
  
 
1.  EUROPEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY FORUM - ENEF .............................................. 2 

2.  EUROPEAN  HUMAN  RESOURCES  OBSERVATORY  IN  THE  NUCLEAR 

ENERGY SECTOR - EHRO-N .................................................................................. 3 

3. 

INITIATIVES UNDER THE EURATOM FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME ........... 4 

4. 

JRC  INITIATIVE  "THE  EUROPEAN  SCHOOL  FOR  NUCLEAR  SAFETY 
AND SECURITY" ...................................................................................................... 7 

5.  EUROPEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - ENELA............ 9 

6.  EUROPEAN NUCLEAR SAFETY TRAINING AND TUTORING INSTITUTE 

- ENSTTI................................................................................................................... 10 

7.  WORLD NUCLEAR UNIVERSITY - WNU........................................................... 11 

8.  OECD  NUCLEAR  ENERGY  AGENCY  -  OECD/NEA  -  AD  HOC  EXPERT 
KNOWLEDGE 

GROUP 
MANAGEMENT (ETKM) ....................................................................................... 12 

EDUCATION, 

TRAINING 

AND 

ON 

9. 

INTERNATIONAL  ATOMIC  ENERGY  AGENCY  –  IAEA  -  NUCLEAR 
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT............................................................................ 13 

10.  INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NUCLEAR LAW - ISNL ................................. 14 

11.  SUSTAINABLE NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM - SNETP 14 

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1.  EUROPEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY FORUM - ENEF 

The  European  Nuclear  Energy  Forum  (ENEF)  is  a  unique  platform  for  a  broad  discussion, 
free  of  any  taboos,  on  transparency  issues  as  well  as  the  opportunities  and  risks  of  nuclear 
energy.  Founded  in  2007,  ENEF  gathers  all  relevant  stakeholders  in  the  nuclear  field: 
governments  of  the  27  EU  Member  States,  European  Institutions  including  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  nuclear  industry,  electricity 
consumers and the civil society. 

ENEF  goes  back  to  an  initiative  of  the  European  Commission  that  was  endorsed  by  the 
leaders of the 27 EU Member States in March 2007. During their summit, they demonstrated 
that the EU is taking the lead in the fight against global warming. 

EU  heads  of  state  and  government  adopted  an  energy  policy  for  Europe  which  does  not 
simply aim to boost competitiveness and secure energy supply, but also aspires to save energy 
and promote climate-friendly energy sources. Taking into account the substantial contribution 
of  nuclear  energy  to  meeting  these  challenges  they  endorsed  the  Commission  proposal  to 
organize a broad discussion among all relevant stakeholders on the opportunities and risks of 
nuclear energy. 

As a concrete follow-up, the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovakia agreed to 
jointly  host  this  nuclear  discussion  forum,  the  "European  Nuclear  Energy  Forum",  which  is 
organized successively in Bratislava and Prague. 

During  the  inaugural  meeting  on  26  and  27  November  2007  in  Bratislava,  three  working 
groups on "Risks", "Opportunities", and "Transparency" have been set up, which meet more 
frequently and prepare the ENEF gatherings. 

The  Working  Group  "Opportunities"  covers 
competitiveness, financing models and a legal roadmap. 

in  Sub-Working  Groups 

the 

issues 

The  Working  Group  "Transparency"  concentrates  on  establishing  a  roadmap  on  better 
information  and  transparency  in  the  nuclear  field,  developing  an  appropriate  consultative 
process and initiating concrete structured stakeholder dialogues beyond the European Nuclear 
Forum meetings to broaden the discussion basis. 

The Working Group "Risks" covers in a number of Sub-Working Groups the topics nuclear 
installation safety, radioactive waste management, non-proliferation as well as education and 
training.  

The Education and Training Sub-Working Group elaborated two concrete initiatives to deal 
with  the  increasingly  challenging  situation  of  nuclear  human  resources,  both  of  which  have 
been implemented by now: the European Nuclear Energy Leadership Academy founded last 
year  by  six  companies  has  started  its  first  course  this  year  and  the  European  Human 
Resources Observatory for the Nuclear Energy Sector (EHRO-N), see annex 2. 

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2.  EUROPEAN  HUMAN  RESOURCES  OBSERVATORY  IN  THE  NUCLEAR  ENERGY  SECTOR  - 

EHRO-N 

In  its  conclusions  of  December  2008  the  European Council pointed  out  that  “there  is a real 
risk  of  the  loss  of  nuclear  knowledge  for  the  European  Union  if  no  measures  are  taken.”  It 
also emphasized strongly that “the preservation of skills in the nuclear field requires a general 
effort  involving  public  and  private  players  and  in  particular  the  nuclear  industry.” 
Furthermore, the Council Directive of 25 June 2009 on establishing a Community framework 
for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations in its article 7 reminded the Member States that 
arrangements  for  education  and  training  needed  to  be  made  in  order  “to  maintain  and  to 
further develop expertise and skills in nuclear safety”.  

One of the European Commission' (EC) answers to the above challenges is the setting up of a 
European  Human  Resources  Observatory  for  the  Nuclear  Energy  Sector  (EHRO-N)  as 
proposed by the ENEF Working Group Risks. The EC’s Joint Research Centre (Institute for 
Energy) was charged with the management and operation. A Senior Advisory Group (SAG) is 
providing guidance on conceptual issues. 

EHRO-N shall: 

•  produce and regularly update a quality-assured data base on the short-, medium and long-
term needs of human resources for the different stakeholders in nuclear energy and nuclear 
safety.  The  data  should  be  structured  according  to  the  required  qualifications  (i.e. 
disciplines and specializations, main non-academic and academic levels, need for specific 
practical  skills  or  theoretical  knowledge)  and  allow  proper  analyses  on  the  trends  to  be 
performed. 

•  identify  gaps  and  deficiencies  in  the  European  nuclear  E&T  infrastructure  and  elaborate 

recommendations for remedial actions and optimizations. 

•  play an active role in the development of a European scheme of nuclear qualifications and 

mutual recognitions 

•  use  existing  information  (e.g.  results  of  existing  national  and  sectoral  surveys  and  data 
produced by specific nuclear stakeholders) but should critically review those data in order 
to ensure their consistency with European energy supply strategies and likely medium- and 
long-term developments of the global nuclear sector. 

•  regularly communicate by conventional and electronic means relevant data to the Member 
States  governmental,  academic  and  private  organizations  involved  in  nuclear  education 
and training. Moreover the Observatory should take an active part in the communication of 
nuclear HR issues and their relevance to the public. 

Instruments: 

A.  The  EC-JRC-IE  is  the  Operating  Agent  which  provides  the  necessary  infrastructure, 
networking, analyses capabilities and long term stability. Activities are focused on setting up 
and  maintenance  of  a  database  and  conduct  of  regular  analyses,  reviews,  compilations, 
specification and the tendering of specific studies, production and the distribution of regular 
communications,  organisation  of  workshops  and  meetings,  support  of  the  steering  group, 
establish  and  maintain  close  links  to  organisations  involved  and  providing  co-ordination  as 
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necessary.  The  Operating  Agent  is  proposing  initiatives  to  strengthen  nuclear  human 
resources capacity in EU  

B. The Senior Advisory Group (SAG) is composed of senior experts from EU major nuclear 
stakeholders,  meets  two  times  per  year  and  is  focusing  on  providing  general  guidance  on 
conceptual issues, such as, for example, type of data and data quality required, analysis to be 
performed,  endorsement  of  major  EHRO-N  reports,  preparation  and  conduct  of  major 
communication actions. 

The  actual  operation  of  EHRO-N  has  resulted  already  in  development  of  several  surveys, 
studies  and  reports  being  in  a  final  stage  of  preparation.  The  EHRO-N  website  for 
dissemination  of  relevant  information  is  prepared.  The  Commission  will  provide  to  the 
Council regular updates on the progress of EHRO-N  

3. 

INITIATIVES UNDER THE EURATOM FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 

One of the main goals of the Euratom research and training programs is to contribute to the 
sustainability  of  nuclear  energy  by  generating  knowledge  and  developing  competencies. 
Euratom  training  programs  aim  at  offering  European  responses  most  notably  to  the  new 
structure of nuclear industry and regulation, that is: the increasingly international character on 
nuclear  business,  the  deregulation  and  privatisation  of  the  energy  market,  a  trend  towards 
outsourcing of activities, and new approaches for the management of advanced technologies 
and human resources.  

As a consequence, the new schemes for knowledge creation and competence building in the 
EU should take special care of the requirements of borderless mobility and lifelong learning. 
One  of  the  aims  could  be  to  produce,  for  example,  "European  Skills  Passports",  wherever 
appropriate, thereby preparing a new generation of leading European talents in nuclear fission 
technologies. Borderless mobility means, in particular, the mutual recognition of competences 
and  qualifications  amongst  the  Member  States  and,  consequently,  the  free  circulation  of 
nuclear  experts,  with  a  view  to  continuously  improve  and  disseminate  the  nuclear  safety 
culture.  Lifelong  learning  means,  in  particular,  the  qualification  of  continuous  professional 
development  (CPD)  schemes,  based  on  a  variety  of  education  and  training  paths,  such  as: 
formal  or  informal  learning;  traditional  or  virtual  classroom  training,  using  advanced 
videoconferencing systems; short technical visits to nuclear installations or longer internships 
in industry or research laboratories, etc.  

Faced  with  the  challenges  of  borderless  mobility  and  lifelong  learning,  it  is  quite  natural  to 
adopt  (like  other  large  industrial  sectors  in  the  EU  such  as  aeronautics  and  automotive)  the 
European  Credit  system  for  Vocational  Education  and  Training  (ECVET)  –  see 
Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 20091. ECVET’s 
objective  is  to  promote  mutual  trust,  transparency  and  recognition  of  competencies  and 
qualifications in VET across the 27 EU Member States.  

As far as Euratom is concerned, the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNE-
TP),  composed  of  all  stakeholders  of  nuclear  fission  and  radiation  protection  (over  75 

1 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2009:155:0011:0018:EN:PDF 

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organizations), is a driving force, amongst others, in programmes for education and training 
as  well  as  knowledge  management  (ETKM  group).  Euratom  training  activities  are  usually 
addressed to research and industry workers with higher education level, that is: corresponding 
to EQF levels 6 to 8 (European Qualifications Framework).  

According to the IAEA definition, competence means the "ability to apply knowledge, skills 
and attitudes so as to perform a job in an effective and efficient manner and to an established 
standard  (S.S.S.  No.  RS-G-1.4/2001)".  Knowledge  is  usually  created  in  higher  education 
institutions  (e.g.,  universities)  and  in  (private  and  public)  research  organizations.  Skills  and 
attitudes  are  usually  the  result  of  specific  training  and  on-the-job  experience  throughout 
professional life. 

The Euratom training strategy is based on three objectives, as a result of discussions with the 
main  stakeholders  in  all  areas  (reactor  safety  and  performance;  radioactive  waste 
management; radiation protection, medical applications of ionising radiations, etc): 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Analysis of the needs of industry and society, in particular, with regard to training in 
nuclear  safety  culture.  This  issue  raises  questions,  like:  How  can  the  current 
Continuous  Professional  Development  (CPD)  schemes  be  improved  in  view  of  the 
new structure of nuclear industry and regulation? Wherever a "European Passport" is 
appropriate, what kind of knowledge, skills and attitudes is needed, and what are the 
established standards? 

Convergence toward a common vision that puts the above needs in an EU perspective. 
This means, for example: Identify new job profiles and competencies, focussing on the 
continuous  improvement  of  not  only  safety  and  performance,  but  also  sustainability, 
economics and proliferation resistance; Design new training schemes in the context of 
borderless  mobility  and  lifelong  learning  and  discuss  them  with  the  various  human 
resource departments. 

Development  of  common  instruments  that  meet  the  above  needs  and  vision.  This 
necessitates,  for  example:  the  definition  of  “learning  outcomes”  in  terms  of 
knowledge,  skills  and  competences  that  are  recognized  in  the  EU  (ECVET);  the 
identification of portfolios of learning outcomes that will allow an individual to prove 
his  competencies  in  a  coherent  manner  recognized  by  all  employers  in  the  EU; 
political support and funding sources at national and EU level. 

In  this  context,  a  number  of  "Euratom  Fission  Training  Schemes"  (EFTS)  were  launched  in 
specific  areas  where  a  shortage  of  skilled  professionals  has  been  identified.  The  EFTS  is  a 
significant development aimed at structuring training and career development across the EU. 
Each  EFTS  is  a  long-term  (usually  3  years)  and  ambitious  (up  to  2  million  Euros)  training 
the  participation  of  all  stakeholders  concerned  with  nuclear 
program,  relying  on 
competencies.  To  ensure  the  highest  quality  of  these  training  activities,  a  non-profit 
association was formed in September 2003. This legal entity, located at CEA-INSTN Paris, is 
the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN2). 

2 www.enen-assoc.org 

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Currently  there  are  five  Euratom  FP-7  projects  of  the  EFTS  type.  They  are  examples  of 
Euratom responses to the need of specific competencies in some selected domains, using the 
above ECVET tools: 

•  TRASNUSAFE - Nuclear Safety Culture: addressing mainly the health physics sector 

(e.g., ALARA principle) 

•  ENEN III Training  schemes - Generation III and IV engineering: addressing mainly 

the nuclear systems suppliers  

•  ENETRAP  II  -  European  Network  on  E&T  in  Radiological  Protection:  addressing 

mainly the nuclear safety authorities (e.g., Radiation Protection Expert) 

•  PETRUS  II  -  Program  for  Education,  Training,  Research  on  Underground  Storage: 

addressing mainly radwaste agencies  

•  CINCH  -  Nuclear  and  radio-chemistry:  addressing  mainly  the  sector  of  the  nuclear 

fuel cycle. 

Two further EFTS will probably be funded following the 2011 call ("VVER safety culture" 
and "cooperation with Canada", resp.) and more are expected in the future.  

(1) TRASNUSAFE - Nuclear Safety Culture  

The  focus  in  this  EFTS  (19  Participants)  is  on  competencies  required  by  the  health  physics 
sector (e.g., ALARA principle). This FP-7 project is designing, developing and validating two 
training schemes on nuclear safety culture, with a common basis. One scheme is related to the 
nuclear  industry  and  the  other  to  installations  making  use  of  ionising  radiation.  The  target 
public  are  professionals  in  charge  of  health  physics  control  in  nuclear  power  plants  and  of 
radiotherapy services in hospitals.  

(2) ENEN III Training schemes - Generation III and IV engineering  

Here,  the  focus  is  on  competencies  required  by  nuclear  system  suppliers.  This  EFTS  (19 
Participants) is organizing four training schemes:  

–  Basic Nuclear Topics for Non-Nuclear Engineers;  

–  Design Challenges for Generation III NPP (2 professional profiles);  

–  Construction Challenges for Generation III NPP (2 professional profiles);  

–  Design Challenges for Generation IV Reactors. 

(3) ENETRAP II - European Network on E&T in Radiological Protection  

This EFTS (12 participants) focuses on competencies required by Euratom legislation in each 
Member State (96/29/Euratom Directive - EC proposal on revised Basic Safety Standards in 
2011).  The  emphasis  is  on  the  development  of  European  standards  in  synergy  with  the 
competent  authorities  and  the  setting  up  of  an  EU-wide  recognised  "European  radiation 

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protection  training  scheme"  (ERPTS)  for  initial  education  and  continuous  professional 
development for radiation protection experts (RPEs) and radiation protection officers (RPOs). 

(4) PETRUS II - Program for Education, Training, Research on Underground Storage  

The  focus  here  is  on  competencies  required  by  radwaste  agencies  (e.g.,  repository  and 
engineered  systems  design).  In  this  EFTS  (14  participants),  a  Science  and  Technology 
Passport is being developed. A preliminary survey of the "market" showed that a number of 
Training Courses do already exist in the areas of interest. To complete the passport, a series of 
new courses are being organized in the Euratom framework.  

(5) CINCH - Cooperation in education in Nuclear Chemistry  

The consortium of this EFTS (7 participants) includes academia and "future employers", who 
represent all the key players. The EU experience is faced with the Russian expertise. A set of 
compact joint modular courses (including internships) is being produced in different branches 
of modern nuclear chemistry. A long term strategy for the nuclear chemistry education will be 
established, including a roadmap for its implementation. 

4. 

 JRC INITIATIVE "THE EUROPEAN SCHOOL FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY" 

4.1.  Nuclear Education and Training: a key to innovation and growth 

Education and training in the field of Nuclear Science and Technology must be considered a 
key  component  of  the  nuclear  infrastructure  worldwide,  as  clearly  stated  at  the  G8  2009 
Summit.3 However, concerns have been raised that nuclear education and training is not at the 
level  where  it  should  be,  as  summarized  in  the  OECD/NEA  report4  "Nuclear  Training  and 
Education. Cause for Concern?" due to: 

•  The decreasing number and the dilution of nuclear programmes. 

•  The decreasing number of students taking nuclear subjects. 

•  The lack of young faculty members to replace ageing and retiring faculty members. 

•  Ageing research facilities, which are being closed and not replaced. 

•  The significant fraction of nuclear graduates not entering the nuclear industry. 

These concerns as well as the aim to maintain the current high level of nuclear safety, led the 
Council of the European Union to conclude that "it is essential to maintain in the European 
Union a high level of training in the nuclear field"5 

In contrast to other fields of science and technology, nuclear education and training has not 
been primarily the domain of the academic institutions because of the specific infrastructure 

3 http://www.g8italia2009.it/static/G8_Allegato/NSSG_ET-ICB_Final_28May_OK%5B1%5D,0.pdf 
4 http://www.nea.fr/ndd/reports/2000/nea2428-education.pdf 
5 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st15/st15406.en08.pdf 

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needs.  Whereas  nuclear  reactor  technology  is  generally  well  covered  at  universities,  the 
knowledge  and  capabilities  of  handling  nuclear  materials  are  traditionally  concentrated  in 
national and international research facilities that have the appropriate infrastructure, ensuring 
the high level of operational safety and security required. As a result, nuclear education and 
training have been the common effort of universities and (inter)national laboratories in many 
countries. The role of the European Commission in this context was defined in the Euratom 
Treaty  (Rome,  1957)  in  which  it  is  explicitly  mentioned  that  "The  Commission  shall  be 
responsible  for  promoting  and  facilitating  nuclear  research  in  the  Member  States  and  for 
complementing it by carrying out a Community research and training programme."  

In  the  light  of  this,  the  Joint  Research  Centre  of  the  European  Commission  will  make  its 
nuclear facilities available to enhance existing graduate programmes at leading universities in 
Europe  providing  a  unique  set  of  tracks,  with  the  goal  to  offer  specialisation  in  fields  of 
nuclear  science  related  to  nuclear  security  and  safety,  nuclear  materials,  nuclear  data,  and 
actinide  science.  These  tracks  will  enable  the  students  to  get  hands-on  experience  in  JRC's 
unique  and  specialised  nuclear  laboratories  and  participate  to  cutting-edge  research, 
increasing  the  value  of  their  curriculum  significantly.  In  parallel,  the  JRC  and  its  academic 
partners  will  join  efforts  to  offer  post-graduate  training  courses  for  (young)  researchers  and 
engineers  working  in,  among  others,  industry,  consultancy companies, public authorities, or 
regulatory  agencies,  to  enhance  their  knowledge,  with  emphasis  on  issues  related  to  the 
nuclear fuel cycle for which the nuclear materials issue plays an important role.    

4.2.  Education 

During the last decade a number of universities in the European Union have initiated Master 
of  Science  degrees  in  nuclear  science  or  nuclear  technology,  or  have  embedded  nuclear 
oriented specialisation in other tracks. They offer a wide scope of courses and training in the 
nuclear field for the MSc graduates, but are generally lacking the possibility of specialisation 
in tracks strongly related to the nuclear fuel cycle, for which the handling of nuclear materials 
is  required.  European  universities  have  nowadays  limited  opportunities  for  working  with 
radioactive  materials  in  practical  quantities  and  must  rely  on  collaboration  with  specialised 
non-academic institutions. For that reason the following tracks are under consideration for the 
graduate  programme  between  the  JRC  and  its  partner  universities  in  the  frame  of  the 
European School for Nuclear Safety and Security: 

E1. Nuclear Security, Safeguards and Forensics 
E2. Nuclear Fuels  
E3. Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing 
E4. Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning 
E5. Physics and Chemistry of the Actinides 
E6. Nuclear Data 

The students enrolled in these tracks will be hosted by the JRC laboratories, but will remain 
affiliated  to  the  universities,  which  are  responsible  for  the  assessment  of  the  work  and  the 
awarding of the degree. They will follow common courses (by laboratory staff and university 
teachers),  will  be  tutored  by  a  specialist  in  the  field  of  their  chosen  track,  and  perform 
practical  work.  A  limited  number  of  places  will  be  available  each  year  and  selection  of  the 
applications  from  the  partner  universities  will  be  made  by  an  evaluation  committee, 
considering  that  the  proposed  research  must  be  of  common  interest.  The  goal  is  to  attract 

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highly  talented  students  to  the  field of nuclear science,  with the prospect  to be educated  by 
European specialists from academic community, and work in a world-class laboratory.  

4.3.  Training 

Parallel  to  the  education  of  students,  a  series  of  post-graduate  training  courses  for 
professionals working in the field of the nuclear fuel cycle will be organised in the frame of 
the  European  School  for  Nuclear  Safety  and  Security,  with  emphasis  on  nuclear  materials 
management. The goal of these courses is to enhance the knowledge of young professionals 
via a series of dedicated training courses with on-site practical demonstrations and exercises. 
In  the  first  phase  the  following  one-week  to  three-week  courses will be  offered on a yearly 
basis: 

T1. Nuclear Safeguards and Forensics 
T2. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle (from mine to waste) 
T3. Nuclear Materials  
T4. Practical Aspects of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities 
T5. Safety of Current and Future Nuclear Reactors 
T6. Decommissioning of nuclear installations 

The  courses  will  be  comprehensive  and  timely,  integrating  the  current  advances  in 
experimental  and  simulation  techniques.  They  will  have  an  advanced  level,  with  particular 
attention  on  the  practical  aspects  of  handling  of  and  working  with  nuclear  materials,  with 
demonstrations on-site. A training passport will be issued to the participants that will follow 
four courses within a period of three years. Lecturers will come from the consortium partners, 
but also recognised international experts will be involved. The course content will be defined 
in close consultation with the members of the advisory board, composed of representatives of 
industry, consultancy companies, and regulatory bodies in the nuclear field.  

5.  EUROPEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - ENELA 

The  European  Nuclear  Energy  Leadership  Academy  (ENELA)  was  established  in  January 
2010 by six of Europe's leading nuclear companies (AREVA, Axpo, EnBW, E.ON Kernkraft, 
URENCO  and  Vattenfall)  to  train  future  leaders  in  the  nuclear  industry.  The  European 
Commission  actively  supported  the  launch  of  the  Munich-based  academy  whose  idea  was 
created  in  ENEF.  The  mission  of  ENELA  is  to  equip  those  working  in  and  those  working 
alongside the nuclear energy industry with the skills and expertise they will need to become 
future leaders and to ensure the further development of sustainable European nuclear energy 
solutions. 

ENELA's training programmes are based on a practice-oriented management and leadership 
scheme.  They  will  focus  on  technical,  scientific,  legal,  economic,  political,  strategic  and 
business aspects. Also communications and public affairs are key themes throughout.  

The  ENELA  Leadership  Cycle  (ELC)  is  dedicated  to  experienced  professionals,  the  full-
time one-year ENELA Management Programme (EMP) to young professionals and graduates. 
In  addition  to  the  training  programmes,  the  ENELA  Conference  Cycle  (ECC)  is  under 
development, which is destined to become a centre of excellence for presenting and debating 
facts about nuclear power as part of the wider energy mix. 

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ENELA Leadership Cycle – ELC 

ENELA Leadership Cycle candidates are future top-level managers. ELC aims to give high-
potential professionals and senior managers – with technical and non-technical backgrounds – 
a broad understanding of the global nuclear energy sector. 

The cycle covers the whole nuclear value chain and is designed to fully equip candidates as 
they  prepare  to  move  toward  the  next  levels  of  leadership  and  management  in  their 
professional spheres. 

When training is complete, an alumni network will be established to ensure that fellows can 
continue  to  build  on  the  ENELA  experience  and  maintain  contacts  with  the  academy  while 
networking with each other. 

ELC  is  a  specifically-designed,  practical  approach  to  prepare  fellows  for  the  future  by 
examining all key issues impacting the nuclear energy industry. 

ENELA Management Programme – EMP 

This  training  programme  is  designed  for  young  professionals  and  graduates,  with  technical 
and  business  management  or  administration  backgrounds  –  not  necessarily  with  a  nuclear 
energy  component  –  and  whose  goal  is  to  acquire  an  in  depth  understanding  of  the  nuclear 
energy context, technology and business, to take part in the further development of economic, 
safe, reliable and clean nuclear energy. 

During  the  programme,  fellows  will  have  an  opportunity  to  acquire  a  complete,  all-round 
nuclear  experience  with 
to  enhance  personal  management  and 
communication skills via classroom training, practical exercises, case studies, team-building 
activities and direct access to organisations and industrial installations. 

training  adapted 

ENELA Conference Cycle - ECC 

ENELA Conference Cycle is a networking centre of excellence for nuclear policy-makers and 
opinion formers to debate and tackle the most challenging issues involving nuclear power as 
part of the global energy mix and to equip those who need to know about nuclear energy with 
the knowledge they will need to make informed decisions. 

6.  EUROPEAN NUCLEAR SAFETY TRAINING AND TUTORING INSTITUTE - ENSTTI 

The  European  Nuclear  Safety  Training  and  Tutoring  Institute,  ENSTTI  is  an  initiative  of 
European Technical Safety Organizations. ENSTTI provides vocational training and tutoring 
in  the  methods  and  practices  required  to  perform  assessment  in  nuclear  safety,  nuclear 
security and radiation protection. ENSTTI calls on European Technical Safety Organizations’ 
expertise to maximize the transmission of safety and security knowledge, practical experience 
and culture. 

ENSTTI  offers  short  applied  training  sessions  and  longer  tutoring  periods  both  for  young 
professionals  and  for  those  with  some  professional  experience  in  the  nuclear  sector.  All 
course  programs  include  working  groups,  simulator  sessions,  technical  visits  and  open 

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discussions. Certificates are delivered at the end of training periods reflecting the knowledge 
acquired. 

During  the  tutoring  periods  customized  to  each  applicant’s  future  work,  trainees  work 
alongside an expert with safety responsibilities within its own organization. The content and 
duration  of  tutoring  periods  are  adapted  to  the  profile  of  each  individual.  The  personalized 
support is continued through regular contacts with safety experts once the trainee returns to 
work. 

ENSTTI lecturers and trainers are recognized experts in their technical domain coming from 
European Technical Safety Organizations. 

The 2011 Programme covers 

•  Reactor safety 

•  Accident Prevention  

7.  WORLD NUCLEAR UNIVERSITY - WNU 

The  World  Nuclear  University  is  a  global  partnership  committed  to  enhancing  international 
education and leadership in the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. The 
central elements of the WNU partnership are: 

•  The  global  organizations  of  the  nuclear  industry: World  Nuclear  Association (WNA) 

and World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) 

•  The  inter-governmental  nuclear  agencies: International  Atomic  Energy  Agency (IAEA) 
the  Organization  for  Economic  Cooperation  and 

and Nuclear  Energy  Agency of 
Development (OECD-NEA) 

•  Leading institutions of nuclear learning in some thirty countries. 

The WNU was inaugurated in 2003. 

As non-profit corporation, the WNU pursues its educational and leadership-building mission 
through programmes organized by a Coordinating Centre (WNUCC) in London.  

Operationally,  the  WNU  is  a  public-private  partnership.  On  the  public  side,  the  WNUCC’s 
multinational  secretariat 
is  composed  mainly  of  nuclear  professionals  supplied  by 
governments; the IAEA further assists with financial support for certain WNU activities. On 
the private side, the nuclear industry provides administrative, logistical and financial support 
via the WNA. 

Structure and Resources 

During its start-up phase, WNU operations have relied mainly on assigned cost-free staff and 
are designed to be largely self-financing.   

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In a second stage, it is envisaged that the WNU agenda will expand to include an even more 
ambitious slate of programmes, to include the management of a major scholarship endowment 
financed by philanthropic contributions.   

WNU Programme Overview 

WNU  programmes  are  intended  to  complement  existing  institutions  of  nuclear  learning  by 
filling unmet educational and training needs on the international level. These programmes are 
designed  to  capitalize  on  the  WNU's  strength  as  a  partnership  that  draws  on  support  from 
industry, governments and academia. 

To  date,  WNU  programmes  have  focused  on  building  nuclear  leadership  and  providing 
orientation on the main issues that affect the global nuclear industry today. As of September 
2009,  nearly  2,000  nuclear  professionals  and  students  from  over  60  countries  will  have 
participated in such programmes. 

Plans for future WNU programmes envisage widening their scope to include:  

•  Fostering industry and regulatory consensus on issues affecting nuclear industry operations 

•  Building  policy  consensus  on  a  sound  multinational  framework  to  govern  expanding 

nuclear commerce and power production 

•  Facilitating multinational academic cooperation 

•  Enhancing public understanding of nuclear science and technology 

WNU Summer Institute 

The WNU Summer Institute is a six week leadership development programme held annually 
at Christ Church, Oxford, UK. 

The WNU Summer Institute curriculum provides cutting-edge presentations on the full range 
of topics relevant to the future of nuclear technology: 

8.  OECD  NUCLEAR  ENERGY  AGENCY  -  OECD/NEA  -  AD  HOC  EXPERT  GROUP  ON 

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (ETKM) 

Since  the  2000  OECD/NEA  report  "Nuclear  Education  and  Training:  Cause  for  Concern?" 
flagged  the  magnitude  and  urgency  of  the  issue  to  governments,  a  number  of  actions  have 
been  taken  which  have  led  to  significant  improvements  in  several  areas.  In  some  countries, 
specific plans to support universities have been successful in reversing the declining trends of 
the number of graduates in nuclear engineering, whilst various international programmes have 
been initiated which strive to foster regional and trans-national co-operation and to improve 
educational  infrastructure  at  universities,  research  institutes  and  industrial  facilities  in  the 
nuclear field. 

While significant  progress  has been  triggered  in some cases, strains in the human resources 
capacity  remain  strong.  The  retirement  or  impending  retirement  of  many  of  the  generation 
which built the existing nuclear power plants and were involved in nuclear R&D in the 1960s 

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and 1970s enhances the risk that collective knowledge and experience of the nuclear industry 
may be lost over the next few years.  

Against this backdrop, the NEA Committee for Technical and Economic Studies on Nuclear 
Energy  Development  and  the  Fuel  Cycle  (NDC)  decided  to  undertake  this  activity  on 
education, training and knowledge management.  

The ETKM expert group was therefore established in October 2009 to conduct a study, with 
the assistance of the Secretariat. The publication of the results is foreseen at the end of 2011 
in  a  report  entitled  "Nuclear  Education  and  Training:  Assuring  a  Competent  Workforce". 
Building  on  existing  work  by  the  NEA,  the  International  Energy  Agency,  the  European 
Community and other organisations, the study will aim at:  

•  collecting  and  analysing  data  related  to  the  issues  of  education,  training  and  knowledge 

management, the current situation and future needs; 

•  assessing  initiatives  already  underway  or  planned,  measures  which  are  being  taken  in 
different  countries  to  preserve  the  nuclear  knowledge  base,  and  the  contribution  of 
international initiatives; 

•  drawing conclusions and recommendations for best practice on policy options to remediate 

any gaps, which could be more widely adopted by governments. 

9. 

INTERNATIONAL  ATOMIC  ENERGY  AGENCY  –  IAEA  -  NUCLEAR  KNOWLEDGE 
MANAGEMENT 

In  2006,  the  IAEA  General  Conference  reiterated  earlier  resolutions  on  nuclear  knowledge 
that  request  the  IAEA  to  develop  corresponding  activities  to  address  current  challenges.  To 
this  end,  the  IAEA  is  implementing  a  special  sub-programme  on  Nuclear  Knowledge 
Management which focuses on: 

•  Developing methodologies and guidance documents for nuclear knowledge management; 

•  Facilitating nuclear education, training and information exchange; and 

•  Assisting Member States in maintaining and preserving nuclear knowledge. 

Every  year,  the  Department  of  Nuclear  Energy  issues  numerous  publications.  Most  are 
available as Nuclear Energy Series publications; they are organized hierarchically by area and 
topic, and can be searched and downloaded in PDF. 

The IAEA also maintains a growing database of annotated links to Web sites on the Internet 
that are related to various fields of nuclear science and technology and the IAEA's work. 

Furthermore,  the  IAEA  maintains  an  edited  worldwide  listing  of  current  and  planned 
conferences,  symposia,  seminars,  exhibitions  and  training  courses  related  to  nuclear  energy 
and its peaceful uses. This on-line edition is updated regularly and features the most current 
information available to the IAEA 

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Finally,  an  IAEA's  Agency's  Reactors  Knowledge  Base  serves  the  information  needs  of 
professionals in the field of nuclear reactor R & D. 

10.  INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NUCLEAR LAW - ISNL 

The International School of Nuclear Law (ISNL) was established in 2001 by the NEA and the 
University  of  Montpellier  1.  Its  objective  is  to  provide  a  high  quality,  intensive  course  of 
education  in  international  nuclear  law  to  law  students  at  doctoral  or  masters  level  and  to 
young professionals in the nuclear sector who wish to develop their knowledge.  

Participants study all essential aspects of nuclear law: radiological protection, nuclear safety, 
radioactive  waste  management,  transport  of  nuclear  materials,  physical  protection,  non-
proliferation,  regulation  of  trade,  environmental  protection  and  nuclear  third  party  liability 
and insurance.  

The ISNL aims to  provide a high quality  course  of  education on  the  various  aspects  of this 
discipline. It is open to law students pursuing their studies at doctoral or masters level who 
wish to follow an introductory course on nuclear law and familiarise themselves with career 
opportunities open to them in this field. It is also open to legal professionals who are already 
their  knowledge.  
and  who  wish 
active 

the  nuclear 

to  develop 

sector 

in 

Independent of its teaching role, the School serves as a forum for students to meet renowned 
specialists in nuclear law in a studious yet convivial atmosphere.  

In addition, participants enrolled in the ISNL programme have the possibility of applying for 
a  University  Diploma  (Diplôme  d'université  -  D.U.)  in  International  Nuclear  Law.  This 
Diploma is recognised within the ECTS (European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System). 

Lectures  are  delivered  by  renowned  specialists  in  nuclear  law,  particularly  from  academic 
circles, specialised international organisations, the nuclear industry and insurance sector, and 
other experts in the nuclear field.  

11.  SUSTAINABLE NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM - SNETP 

Within  the  European  Union’s  energy  policy,  the  Strategic  Energy  Technology  Plan  (SET-
Plan)  identifies  a  set  of  competitive  low-carbon  energy  technologies  to  be  developed  and 
deployed in Europe, with nuclear fission representing a key contribution.  

The  Sustainable  Nuclear  Energy  Technology  Platform  (SNETP)  promotes  research, 
development and demonstration of the nuclear fission technologies necessary to achieve the 
SET-Plan goals in this field: 

•  For  the  year  2020:  (1)  maintain  competitiveness  in  fission  technology,  (2)  provide  long-

term waste management solutions,  

•  For the year 2050, act now to: (1) complete the demonstration of a new generation (Gen 
IV) of fission reactors with increased sustainability, (2) enlarge nuclear fission applications 
beyond electricity production.  

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The SNETP was officially launched on September 21, 2007. Today, SNETP gathers about 80 
European  stakeholders  from industry,  research  and  academia,  technical  safety  organisations, 
non-governmental organisations and national representatives.  

Since its launch in 2007, SNETP’s aims to: 

•  Preserve and strengthen the European technological leadership and nuclear industry;  

•  Enhance Europe’s technological leadership in nuclear science and engineering; and  

•  Contribute  to  the  production  of  synthetic  fuels  and  hydrogen  needs  on  the  basis  of  non 
greenhouse gas emitting production sources in an environmentally benign and sustainable 
economy.  

The SNETP’s tasks are multiple. One important task is to 

•  promote a coordinated training and educational system for developing nuclear competence 

in Europe as an significant cross-cutting activity.  

A  working  group  was  created  to  provide  a  coherent  approach  for  education,  training  and 
knowledge management (ETKM). 

The ETKM Working Group includes stakeholders from research institutions, industry and EU 
organisations, with essential support from the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN).  

The Group will:  

•  identify education and training gaps and recommend actions at appropriate levels,  

•  take  account  of  the  knowledge  that  was  accumulated  in  companies,  research  centres  or 

regulators and recommend actions for transferring it to younger generations,  

•  support  the  dialogue  on  international  cooperation  in  the  field  of  education,  training  and 

knowledge management between EURATOM and non-EU countries. 

The objectives of the ETKM Working Group are: 

•  to identify a course of action to secure an adequate resource of well educated and trained 
young  professionals  to  support  the  research  recommended  in  the  Strategic  Research 
Agenda (SRA),  

•  to identify the steps required to meet the demand of industry for new competent personnel 

and the need for teachers in academia, 

•  to  collate  the  facilities,  both  existing  and  required, to develop the future human resource 

necessary to support the SRA. 

The working group will recommend to the SNETP Governing Board a future framework for 
nuclear  education,  training  and  knowledge  management  at  the  European  level;  in  a  second 
step, it will implement this in a sustainable manner to ensure further development of nuclear 
energy technology in Europe. 

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In  December  2010,  the  ETKM  WG  produced  together  with  FORATOM  a  report  entitled: 
"Nuclear Education and Training : Key Elements of a Sustainable European strategy". In this 
report, they provided a comprehensive overview of the current situation as seen by the group, 
along  with  the  following  dedicated  recommendations  how  to  address  the  challenges  of  the 
future:    

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

Key  stakeholders  in  nuclear  energy  and  nuclear  safety  should  develop  a  'common 
language'  for  employments  as  well  as  education  and  training  for  nuclear  energy, 
including a common taxonomy of skills and competencies linked to jobs. 

Key stakeholders in nuclear energy and academic institutions should engage in a joint 
action  to  optimize  the  curricula  of  academic  programmes  related  to  nuclear  energy 
with  special  regard  to  the  needs  by  2020  and  to  the  potential  synergies  between 
academic and non-academic programmes for graduates. 

Private-public partnerships for nuclear education and training need further support and 
funding in order to be able to cater for the expansion in E&T programmes, the training 
of trainers and providing the necessary guidance. 

The  framework  for  mutual  recognition  of  qualifications  should  be  further  developed 
with  the  objective  of  gradually  including  non-academic  qualifications  and  related 
vocational  training.  This  should  include  the  identification  of  'Competent  Institutions' 
in the EU that can provide qualifications or portfolios of learning outcomes, and pilot 
exercises to apply to 'learning outcomes' approach within ECVET partnership. 

Recent  European  initiatives  such  as  EHRO-N,  ENEN  and  JRC  databases,  which 
depend  on  input  from  and  cooperation  with  national  organizations,  should  receive 
appropriate support. 

The  existing  European  initiatives  for  facilitating  transnational  access  to  facilities  for 
the purpose of education and training should be optimized and coordinated in view of 
building a European platform for E&T-related facilities and IT infrastructure. 

The  existing  European  initiatives  for  cooperation  with  non-European  countries  in 
nuclear  education  and  training  should  be  strengthened  and  integrated  as  part  of  the 
general strategy of enhancing international cooperation in nuclear research and nuclear 
safety. 

Key  organizations  within  the  EU  should  cooperate  in  the  further  development  and 
maintenance  of  European  databases  and  IT  platforms  intended  to  support  nuclear 
education and training and in the provision of information on related programmes and 
opportunities. 

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