Intercontinental Nuclear Institute Concludes Month-Long Training Course for Young Nuclear Professionals

The new training course structure in 2019 includes technical lectures, tours and workshops led by academic and industry experts. “This year, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Intercontinental Nuclear Institute. This unique summer programme, bringing together practitioners from all around the world together to assist young specialists in broadening their knowledge, meeting professionals from the nuclear and non-nuclear fields and providing a robust opportunity for networking,” explained Anna Fortova, Coordinator for the INI at the Czech Technical University in Prague.

During the training event, INI participants visited the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research reactor, among other sites. Selected attendees also engaged in a variety of developmental activities—including panels, university visits and laboratory exercises—to enable knowledge transfer from peers and leaders in the nuclear energy field.

The training course supports Member States in the development of both long-term national nuclear energy strategies and more sustainable nuclear energy infrastructure, based on the highest levels of safety and security while simultaneously meeting long-term energy needs. The Institute is supported through the IAEA’s Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI), launched in 2010. INI seeks to further the objectives of the PUI by engaging the next generation of the nuclear workforce through technical activities and through the promotion of a global dialogue.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, INI has had a positive and demonstrable effect on former participants—in a follow-up survey, conducted in 2018 with the attendees from the first and second years of the programme, 90% of respondents answered that the Institute had a significant impact on the progress of their professional career and 70% answered that INI has affected their decision to pursue a career in the nuclear power sector.

After his participation in INI 2019, Erik Holubek from Slovakia explained, “Not only did I refresh my knowledge, but I also gained new skills and information and met people from different parts of the world in what I consider as an invaluable and beneficial experience.”

“I am eager to share what I’ve learnt with my co-workers and also make relevant contributions to nuclear safety culture awareness within my organization,” added Yvonne Sefakor Dzovor from Ghana, who also attended INI 2019.

^[1] INT2018, ‘Supporting Knowledgeable Decision-making and Building Capacities to Start and Implement Nuclear Power Programmes’