International Nuclear Management Academy Master’s Programmes in Nuclear Technology Management

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• Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9789201166203
• Topic: Technologie et ingénierie
• Subtopic: Génie mécanique

The IAEA facilitated International Nuclear Management Academy (INMA) supports universities to establish and deliver master's degree programmes focusing on technology management for the nuclear sector, including nuclear power programmes, nuclear applications and radiological technologies. The publication provides information for these master's programmes that have a specialized focus on the advanced aspects of management and leadership required by the nuclear sector. It describes the requirements for an INMA nuclear technology management programme (NTM) as well as recommendations for their implementation. The process for a university's NTM programme to be endorsed by the IAEA, including peer review missions, is described in detail with templates for the required information package included. The publication is applicable to universities, stakeholders of nuclear educational programmes and any other nuclear or radiological organization wishing to support the education of their managers and leaders.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

The important role that the IAEA plays in assisting Member States in the preservation and enhancement of nuclear knowledge and in facilitating international collaboration in this area has been recognized by the IAEA General Conference in several resolutions, including Ref. [1]. These resolutions consider nuclear education and training as a prerequisite for the safe and efficient operation of nuclear and radiological facilities, and request the IAEA to assist Member States in their efforts to ensure the availability and sustainability of high quality nuclear education and training in all areas of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, by focusing on the following:

— Developing policies and strategies in nuclear knowledge management, including key issues of nuclear education to help address national and regional needs;

— Fostering strong regional or interregional nuclear education networks;

— Facilitating the harmonization of curricula in nuclear education and training programmes;

— Promoting the awareness and use of nuclear and radiological facilities and engineering and training simulators as effective tools to enhance education and research and to maintain capability;

— Providing specific consultancy services through missions to address emergent problems, trends and long term issues relating to nuclear education;

— Supporting the development and adoption of innovative new e-learning technologies and pedagogical approaches to education and training;

— Creating awareness and common approaches to competency modelling and management frameworks;

— Analysing and sharing information and resources to facilitate nuclear education development.

The development of any national nuclear or radiological programme is dependent on the successful development of qualified human resources, through sustainable nuclear education and training programmes supported by government and industry. Among the broad range of specialists needed to ensure a capable nuclear and/or radiological workforce for the continued safe and economic utilization of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes, competent nuclear managers are a vital component. Management of nuclear technology over the applicable life cycle is challenging, complex and requires managerial competencies specific to each nuclear or radiological sector. The safe and economic use of nuclear and radiological technologies relies heavily on many specialized disciplines and requires the systematic management of complex social and technical systems in a highly regulated environment.

Current and future nuclear and/or radiological sector managers in countries with, or planning to have, nuclear energy programmes or solely radiological programmes are expected to obtain the appropriate knowledge and skills for their positions, both nuclear technology related and managerial competencies. Ideally, future managers in the nuclear and radiological sectors should acquire most of the necessary competencies prior to moving into managerial positions and should continue their development while working as managers.

In many countries considering, or in the process of, launching nuclear energy programmes, or those utilizing radiological applications, there is a lack of both technical and managerial experience in management and leadership roles. Continuous professional development and on-the-job training programmes are in place in many countries, but the timelines needed to develop management leadership competency are longer than desired. In-house training may not be possible as it may be very costly and may not be as comprehensive as desired.

Engineers and scientists at nuclear and radiological organizations often have limited opportunities to obtain formal management education. Likewise, many managers in the nuclear and radiological sectors often do not have a qualification in a nuclear related technical degree programme and typically have few chances of obtaining such formal nuclear engineering or science education during their career. There therefore exists a need for managers to acquire management competencies specific to the nuclear and radiological sectors, not only through practical industry focused training courses and on-the-job learning, but also through formal education focused on theory, concepts and academic exercises.

Following interviews with managers working in the nuclear industry, and consultation with universities, it became clear that there is a need for master’s degree programmes specializing in management for the n...

Table of contents

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• REFERENCES
• ABBREVIATIONS
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW