The document discusses the importance of nuclear higher education for the future of nuclear power. It notes that nuclear education has been in distress since the 1990s despite repeated warnings. Bottom-up solutions from the education sector alone have been insufficient, and top-down solutions are needed, including strategic planning and long-term investments from nuclear stakeholders like government, industry, and academia. Education should remain a prerequisite for training to attract high-quality students and generate meaningful improvements in the nuclear field.

1. The role of nuclear higher education in
the future of nuclear power
Leon Cizelj
President, ENEN Association
Head, Reactor Engineering Division, Jožef Stefan Institute
Shanghai, China, July 5, 2017
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2. ENEN: European Nuclear Education Network
ESTABLISHED in 2003
Steady support by European Comission through projects
OBJECTIVE
the preservation and further development of expertise in the nuclear fields
by higher Education & Training.
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Exchange of information, best practices, teachers and students
• Voluntary accreditation in academic education (quality assurance)
• Coordination of projects of mutual interests
• Coordination of Education, Training, Knowledge Management) activities
among different NUCLEAR knowledge communities
• Facilitating communication & cooperation between nuclear stakeholders
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3. 76 Members from 25 Countries:
5 Research Centers, 9 Companies, 48 Universities, 1 TSO
and 9 international institutions
ENEN Members in 2018
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4. Setting the scene
The importance of training and education in
maintaining safety cannot be understated.
(Advisory Group Meeting on Education and Training in Nuclear Safety, IAEA, 2001)
Nuclear energy should strive to the use of the best
available people, science, knowledge, technologies
and operational experience.
resolves
known problems
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5. Historic data (USA)
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Nuclear engineering
degrees conferred

6. Structure of nuclear power workforce
European Union, 2010
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7. Nuclear Workforce in EU
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↓ ↓ ↓ workforce
needs 2018-2028
↓ workforce
needs 2010-2018

8. Nuclear Workforce in EU
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9. Nuclear Workforce in EU
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10. Nuclear Workforce in EU
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11. Lessons learned (2000-2018)
2000/2001
OECD/NEA: Nuclear Education and Training: A Cause for Concern?
US DOE (NERAC): The Future of University nuclear engineering programs….
EC: How to mantain nuclear competence in Europe
2012
OECD/NEA: Nuclear Education and Training: From Concern to Capability
EC (EHRO-N): Putting into perspective the suply of an demand for nuclear
experts by 2020 within the EU-27 nuclear energy sector
2018
Prof Bum-Jin Chung, @IAEA HRD Conference, Korea:
After 2 decades, still concerns!
• We tend to solve easy problems First
• We tend to be more concerned about How than Why
• Phase out of nuclear power plants continues.
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12. Education concerns persisting for 2 decades!?
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13. WHY? – HOW?
Education vs. Training
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http://stage-gate.com/newsletter/nl_feb_2012.htm
Why? How?
Education Training
Knowledge Skills
Research Experience
Curiosity Need
Academia Industry, Regulators
“Problem“ “Solution“

14. Typical traits of Why? and How?
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Why? How?
Creative Prescriptive, regulated
Inovative Conservative
Cooperative Protective (IP, best practices)
Learns through errors Precludes errors
Open Closed
Problem Solution

15. Management of Why? and How?
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Why? How?
Problem Solution
Difficult Easy
Influences boundary conditions: Follows boundary conditions:
Strategic planning Market driven
Communication
Cooperation
Long term investments

16. Summary
Nuclear energy should strive to the use of the best available
people, science, knowledge, technologies and operational
experience.
Nuclear education in distress since 1990s.
Education should remain a necessary prerequisite for training.
Bottom-up solutions not enough:
– sufficient to maintain the education system and generate warnings;
– insufficient to attract many good students, no notable improvements;
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17. Summary
Top-down solutions needed:
• Strategic planning, communications and
cooperation of nuclear stakeholders (e.g.,
.gov, .com, .edu)
• Long term investments
resolves
known problems
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18. Thank you very much for your attention
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