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Systematic Approach to Training Programmes Helps Enhance Business Performance of Nuclear Facilities, IAEA Meeting Highlights

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Future reactor operators at a training session at the Simulator Training Centre of the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, February 2016. (Photo: L. Potterton/IAEA)

Establishing and maintaining a systematic approach to training for the nuclear workforce can improve both the business performance and the safety of a facility, participants at an IAEA meeting agreed.

To meet increasing demands from Member States, the IAEA is developing an SAT (systematic approach to training) Nuclear Training Effectiveness Evaluation model. Designed around a self-assessment process, together with the option to establish some form of independent validation capability, the model is intended to help Member States ensure that their nuclear training programmes are of high quality and continue to be sustainable into the future.

Within the framework of this project, an IAEA technical meeting was held recently at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna. The 17-20 October event attracted 27 experts from 18 Member States, representing operating, expanding and embarking countries. They focused on key features of an SAT-based nuclear training programme, the processes required for implementation, and how such a programme can help improve business performance.

The experts shared good practices and experiences associated with their national SAT-based nuclear training programmes. Their discussions will contribute to an IAEA publication, which can be used as a reference for evaluating the quality and sustainability of training programmes for operations, maintenance, engineering and technical support positions. 

“Training nuclear personnel is really a core business,” said Phil McCullough, former Vice President of the Nuclear Training Academy of INPO, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, who chaired the meeting. “It is important that senior leaders in nuclear facilities understand that training is not only to provide knowledge and skills to personnel, but that training based on SAT can actually improve business performance and help achieve a company’s goals.”

This project is undertaken in consultation with the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) to support efforts in helping IAEA Member States maximize the return on investment they have made in nuclear training. 

“Having been involved in this field for 30 years, I am very excited about the idea of this next evolution of SAT as a strategic performance improvement tool,” said Brian Molloy, a meeting participant and SAT expert. “This is a great chance to help Member States and nuclear power plants meet economic challenges without compromising the competency of their staff now and in the future.”

SAT: Systematic Approach to Training

The IAEA Safety Guide “Recruitment, Qualification and Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants” recommends that SAT be used for the training of plant personnel.

SAT provides a logical progression from identifying the competencies required for performing a job, to developing and implementing a training programme to achieve those competencies, and to subsequently evaluating it. It offers significant advantages over a more conventional, curricula-driven training in terms of consistency, efficiency and management control, leading to greater reliability of training results and enhancing safety and efficiency of a nuclear power plant.

"It is important that senior leaders in nuclear facilities understand that training is not only to provide knowledge and skills to personnel, but that training based on SAT can actually improve business performance and help achieve a company’s goals."
Phil McCullough, former Vice President of the Nuclear Training Academy of INPO

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