Trends in nuclear education and training vary from country to country, and are closely tied to overall educational patterns in fields of science and technology. The picture largely is drawn from the NEA's study of 16 countries,* Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?, in 2000, and reports at international symposia. Selected reviews follow.
*Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States.
China
Demand for nuclear talent is "huge" because of the development of nuclear power and nuclear technologies in industry, health, and other fields. At the same time, more students are studying computer science, economics and other disciplines rather than nuclear sciences. No "instantaneous effective way to attract brilliant students to nuclear engineering" is seen. But major universities have introduced changes in nuclear engineering programmes, as part of educational reforms, to attract more students, and identified where more efforts are needed. These include greater on-the-job training opportunities for students in areas of research and development. Of interest is more extensive interaction with foreign universities and institutions associated with nuclear engineering and technology, through professional and information exchange programmes.-- "Nuclear Engineering Education at Tsinghua University in Beijing", Kan Wang and Baoshan Jia, July 2000, and "Nuclear Engineering Education in China", Xu Yuanhui, Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, March 1998, International Symposium on Energy Future in the Asia/Pacific Region, co-sponsored by Tokai University Education System, Japan, and University of California-Berkeley, Department of Nuclear Engineering. Results of the symposia are available.
Thailand
International cooperation in nuclear education and training is necessary to keep the technology at its highest level. Nuclear nations and emerging nations have to agree to network and cooperate seriously in this field. Through various programmes, Thailand has benefited from collaboration with Canada, France, Japan, and the United States, as well as through IAEA projects. Examples include a linkage project involving Canadian and Thai universities; a scientist exchange programme with Japan and Thai nuclear institutes and research laboratories; and cooperation with France for training Thai students and faculty in French laboratories.-- "Nuclear Engineering Education in Thailand: Present Status", T. Sumitra and N. Chankow, Department of Nuclear Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, March 1999, International Symposium on Energy Future in the Asia/Pacific Region, co-sponsored by Tokai University Education System, Japan, and University of California-Berkeley, Department of Nuclear Engineering. Results of the symposia are available.
Japan
Public perceptions of nuclear technologies, particularly after the Chernobyl accident, have cast a long shadow, influencing educational trends. Nuclear engineering departments, as such, have been replaced in most major universities by newly named departments that emphasize energy, sciences, or systems studies, with nuclear content moved within those curricula. The result has been an increase in graduate students in different specialties and more broad-based research fields. The restructuring of the nuclear industry and the wide varieties of job opportunities in other industries have contributed to problems in recruiting top-class students to join nuclear fields. The impression often prevails among the young generation that there is a lack of future prospects for satisfying careers in nuclear industries. Many actions against these trends have started, involving collaborative efforts between government, industry, and universities.--"Nuclear Engineering Education in the 21st Century", Prof. Shiori Ishino, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Tokai University, July 2000, International Symposium on Energy Future in the Asia/Pacific Region, co-sponsored by Tokai University Education System, Japan, and University of California-Berkeley, Department of Nuclear Engineering. Results of the symposia are available. OECD Nuclear Energy Study, "Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?", 2000.
Mexico
National authorities have taken steps to train staff in the nuclear field on topics ranging from radiation protection to nuclear reactor safety. Support from the IAEA and other organizations have enabled staff to attend specialized courses abroad. Training in the basics of nuclear technology also has been initiated, as applicants often lack formal knowledge in nuclear engineering. The future of nuclear education is somewhat uncertain, and top-level programmes at universities and technical institutes are facing difficulties, as students opt to study science or mathematics rather than nuclear engineering and faculty members near retirement. Nonetheless, some post-graduate programmes were initiated in the late 1990s. Though initiatives have been taken by government, universities, and professionals, greater investment is needed over a four to five year period to prepare the young generation for careers in the nuclear field.--OECD Nuclear Energy Study, "Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?", 2000.
United Kingdom
Nuclear education is not yet at a crisis point in the country but is certainly under stress. While there are no longer any nuclear specific undergraduate courses, the number of undergraduates reported as having a nuclear content in their university education stayed constant during 1990-98, and even may have increased slightly. At the same time, the needs of the industry, both in terms of recruitment and research, have declined as it has reached maturity and as it seeks to be more competitive in a deregulated energy sector. The concern is that nuclear education remains sufficiently robust and flexible to support the nuclear industry as it evolves. Some companies are working more closely with universities, including British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. which has worked with universities to set up a centre of excellence in nuclear chemistry. Regarding recruitment, the nuclear industry historically commanded the best brains because it offered the best resources and facilities and stood on the cutting edge of technical development. The industry perception of many potential graduates, however, has turned negative. The public relations activities companies use to raise their profile have not been specifically geared to recruitment but certainly have helped it. OECD Nuclear Energy Study, "Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?", 2000.
Hungary
Nuclear education and training have been closely linked to the construction, operation and future of the country's nuclear power plant, which meets about 40% of electricity needs. Programmes specializing in nuclear power, radiochemistry, and nuclear measurement techniques, for example, have been offered over the years within the framework of technical and scientific university programmes. With the IAEA's assistance, a nuclear maintenance center was built and a new generation of instructors were trained, as part of a project to improve the nuclear plant's professional training system and conditions. Future training needs are tied to the future nuclear developments, including decommissioning, life extension, and construction of new plants.-- OECD Nuclear Energy Study, "Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?", 2000. (Click here, for a report on the training center.)
Canada
Changes to the structure and funding of the nuclear industry could hold adverse effects for nuclear education in the future. In the 1990s, the number of students studying or graduating with degrees having nuclear content stayed relatively constant, as have the number of teaching staff. The future, however, is likely to be less stable because of industry reorganization, the curtailment of some university nuclear research programmes, and the public image of the industry. Entering the 21st century, the job market for new graduates with nuclear engineering background was quite good, mainly because of utility efforts in refurbishing operating reactors. The availability of such graduates is likely to decline until a more positive atmosphere reigns in the industry. This could be helped as governments pay more heed to the Kyoto accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the role that nuclear power can play in helping to meet targets.-- OECD Nuclear Energy Study, "Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?," 2000.