Nuclear education and training: Cause for concern?

Nuclear power plants have played an important role in electricity generatio n in the OECD member countries, contributing an average 24% over the past f ew years. One major criterion for the success of this technology has always been the education and training of competent personnel in all sectors of n uclear development and application. The high level of competence and know-h ow reached must be maintained in the future. Qualified personnel is require d for running existing plants, building new nuclear power plants - at prese nt especially in Japan and Korea - and for all activities associated with s upply and waste management, decommissioning, and for all applications of nu clear technology above and beyond energy generation. The number of university graduates in the OECD countries is decreasing alar mingly, among other reasons because of the diminished attractiveness of the se courses as a consequence of the reduced number of nuclear engineering co urses offered in curricula. A broad-based program of disseminating basic in formation in nuclear technology in university curricula is urgently require d. In industry, internal advanced and in-career training measures and progr ams are offered to ensure broad-based qualification as well as specializati on in nuclear subjects of the staff, as demands are rising and flexibility is required of all staff members. This development implies that governments in particular are called upon to ensure, by long-term planning, that nuclear competence is preserved in scie nce and research, in industry and applications, as part of their areas of r esponsibility and competence. Note: The full text of the study on which this contribution is based has be en published under the title of "Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern?" by OECD-NEA, Paris, 2000, 124 pages.