On 16 September 2016, certificates were given to participants symbolizing the successful completion of an intense two-week training programme - the First Joint ROSATOM-IAEA Nuclear Energy Management (NEM) School, held in Russia from 5 to 16 September and was hosted by the Saint-Petersburg Branch of the Rosatom Central Institute for Continuing Education and Training (ROSATOM-CICE&T).
Training the nuclear leaders
The event was organized by the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the purpose of building leadership competencies in managing nuclear energy programmes, particularly in newcomer countries that seek to develop nuclear power or other nuclear applications.
Current and future nuclear leaders from eighteen countries acquired detailed insights on nuclear power and an overview of the nuclear sector in the global context. IAEA, international and ROSATOM experts specializing in various fields shared their experience and best practices regarding various issues covering technical, legal, financial and societal aspects of national nuclear programmes. The course introduced the participants to a range of topics on the use of nuclear energy, such as issues of nuclear infrastructure development, the management of safety and safety culture, advances in reactor technologies, and nuclear knowledge management. The Joint ROSATOM-IAEA NEM School served as an effective tool to transfer management experience and knowledge. The directors of the School were the IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy, Mr. Mikhail Chudakov and Vice-Rector ROSATOM-CICE&T, Prof. Vladimir Artisiuk.
"This School has been very interesting, very educating. I like the way the programme was structured: it covered all 19 infrastructure issues... the IAEA experts gave the guidelines and the ROSATOM experts gave more of the practical knowledge, practical utilization of these ideas. We had a visit to Leningrad NPP, to ROSATOM Emergency Response Center and some other visits including cultural tours to some historical landmarks of the city. So, I really enjoyed the programme, I've been well educated and also enjoyed being in Saint Petersburg," said Augustine BENNI, Scientist, Principal Scientific Officer, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Nigeria.