WNU One-week Course: "Key Issues in the World Nuclear Industry Today" 

INTRODUCTION

Purpose

These events are designed to enhance the knowledge of younger people about how nuclear science and technology are applied in the world today, while encouraging an expansive view of where it is likely to go in the future. International experts lecture on a wide range of topics with the aim of offering practical knowledge, a global perspective and an exciting vision of the future, which should stimulate interest amongst attendees in pursuing further careers in this area.

Participants are masters-level university students in nuclear science and engineering, staff at nuclear research centres, professionals in the local nuclear industry and equivalent government employees, including regulators and energy planners. They are generally be people with some background knowledge of nuclear and maybe some specialist knowledge in one or more areas. The overall aim of the course is to give attendees a comprehensive knowledge of the key issues in the world industry today, to enable them to place their own current role into perspective while also opening their eyes to the opportunities of the future. A related objective is to encourage different groups involved in nuclear within the country to communicate more closely with each other, to the benefit of all.

Each course aims at attracting upwards of 100 attendees, but this may vary by location.
 

Venues and Content 

It is hoped  that 8-10 courses will eventually be organised each year, following the launch at Tsinghua University , Beijing in July 2007. Locations are chosen where there is significant local interest in nuclear eg China, India, Russia, Latin America, but limited ability of people to travel large distances to training courses.

Local academic and business institutions host the courses. They attract attendees mainly from the host country, but invitations are also extended to young people in nearby countries with close academic, political or cultural ties.

Leading world experts present overviews of a full range of nuclear-related topics (see the draft programme below). The curriculum is adapted to satisfy the needs of the particular country but the intention is to leave attendees with a full appreciation of the key issues influencing the development of nuclear today. Lecturers are encouraged to summarise key points and draw out important issues for further discussion. These are then taken  up at coffee breaks, lunches and dinners, where the teaching faculty and local experts are freely available to stimulate discussion and debate.

Logistics 

The local host institution is responsible for attracting the attendees, arranging their board and lodging and for the financial arrangements surrounding this. They also provide the meeting rooms and audiovisual requirements. The programme suggests that some local “mentors” be available, to supplement the main faculty. Arrangements for the teaching faculty are the responsibility of WNU and its sponsors.

DRAFT PROGRAMME 

The course consist of 15-20 modules, each of 90-120 minutes teaching and discussion time. Teaching is generally in English, but translation services have been used on some courses. 3-4 modules are taught each day, with breaks between each for refreshments and lunch. There may also be some additional presentations from sponsoring organisations about their own activities.

The programme below can be adapted to meet local needs, but the topics suggested should provide a good indication of the core elements of the course.
 

08.30-10.00 World Energy Supply and Demand
10.30-12.00 Global Environmental Challenge and Nuclear Power
13.30-15.30 Nuclear Fuel
15.30-17.00 Nuclear Economics

Tuesday 

08.30-10.00 NPP Design Management
10.30-12.00 NPP Project and Engineering Management
13.30-15.00 NPP Operational Excellence
15.30-17.00 Gen III and Gen IV designs

Wednesday 

08.30-10.00 Nuclear Project Structuring and Financing
10.30-12.00 Nuclear Transport
13.30-15.00 Nuclear Safety
15.30-17.00 Radiation and Health

Thursday 

08.30-10.00 Non-proliferation Regime and Security
10.30-12.00 Nuclear Law
13.30-15.00 Waste Management
15.30-17.00 Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities

Friday 

08.30-10.30 Non-power Applications
10.30-12.00 Nuclear Politics
13.30-15.00 Public Acceptance
15.30-17.00 Future Nuclear Technology

SCHEDULE

16 courses have now been organised with an overall attendance of over 2000 people.

2007 
9-13 July Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

2008 3-7 March: Guanabara Palace Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
10-14 March: Instituto Balseiro, Bariloche, Argentina
2-6 June: St George Hotel, Irene, Nr Pretoria, South Africa
30 June-4 July: Tsinghua University , Beijing , China
7-11 July: Nuclear Training Centre, KAERI, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
15-19 September: Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

2009 9-13 March: IPEN, Sao Paolo, Brazil
16-20 March: Bariloche, Argentina
1-5 June: Bondey House, Centurion, S. Africa
29 June-3 July: Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
6-10 July: Nuclear Training Centre, KAERI, Daejeon, S. Korea

20103-5 March: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8-10 March: Buenos Aires, Argentina
10-14 May: Singapore
28 June-2 July: Beijing, China
11-15 October: Johannesburg, South Africa

Library of course photographs of previous years 

LECTURERS

Find out more about the internationally-renowned line-up of lecturers.

FURTHER INFORMATION 

Those interested in having the course come to their country are invited to contact Steve Kidd