On 21-22 November 2024, the NEA Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy (the Global Forum on Nuclear Education) gathered representatives from its Council of Advisors at the NEA headquarters in Paris for the seventh meeting since the Global Forum on Nuclear Education’s initiation in 2021.
The meeting was led by Chair of the Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Professor Seungjin Kim from Purdue University, United States, with support from Vice-Chair, Professor Sungyeol Choi of Seoul National University, Korea. NEA Director-General, William D. Magwood, IV, joined the meeting to deliver special remarks, highlighting the efforts that the Global Forum on Nuclear Education has made so far to address the long-standing gaps in nuclear education and human capacity development and acknowledging the need to maintain this momentum.
The agenda of the two-day meeting included progress updates from the chairs and co-chairs of the seven working groups, which focus on tackling challenges in nuclear education across the following areas:
- Achieving gender balance in nuclear technology and academic workforces
- Defining the future of nuclear engineering education
- Rethinking the relationship between nuclear energy and society
- Revitalising innovation in the nuclear sector to improve the future competitiveness of nuclear energy
- Re-establishing nuclear law education programmes
- Building a pipeline of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals
- Developing an international curriculum for the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle
The annual Rising Stars Workshop, which took place on 25-26 November 2024 at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Germany, was highlighted as part of Working Group 1’s activities to address gender balance issues within the sector. The Council of Advisors heard updates from the newly launched groups, Working Group 6 and Working Group 7, which have been building their membership and establishing their programme of work.
Official observer organisations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Commission (EC) and the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), also attended the meeting and reported on their own educational initiatives with their respective partners and stakeholders. A special presentation on management and leadership for safety was also offered in relation to the Strengthening European Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Education (SENSSEtt) European Project. These presentations helped to enhance the existing collaborative relationships and ensure that all opportunities to support nuclear education and training are being leveraged and managed in a complementary manner.
The meeting also offered an opportunity to look ahead to the first Global Forum Symposium, which is being planned for autumn 2025, hosted by the University of Michigan. Professor Todd Allen, Head of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department, shared an overview of the draft programme, which will also incorporate the 2025 edition of Rising Stars.
To learn more about the Global Forum on Nuclear Education, visit the web page or contact globalforum@oecd-nea.org. To be notified of future updates about the 2025 Global Forum Symposium, please sign up to the mailing list.
