Shaping the Future of Nuclear Academic Programs

Overview of Workshops This panel session will provide a general overview of the four workshops conducted with over 200 participants from more than 100 academic institutions. The focus areas include career awareness, pipelines, resources/funding, and job placement best practices. Key Discussion Points 1. Career Awareness Importance of Education and Outreach: Emphasize the need to raise awareness about career opportunities in the nuclear sector among students and young professionals. Highlight initiatives like the NEA's Global Forum on Nuclear Education, which aims to address the status of nuclear education and promote the field through various working areas, including the future of nuclear engineering education and re-thinking the relationship between nuclear energy and society. 2. Pipelines Building a Robust Talent Pipeline: Discuss strategies to create a continuous pipeline of skilled professionals. This includes partnerships between academic institutions and industry, internships, and mentorship programs. The NEA's efforts to safeguard the future workforce by enabling the generation and flow of ideas through cooperative and creative problem-solving can serve as a model. 3. Resources and Funding Securing Funding and Resources: Address the need for adequate funding and resources to support education and training programs. Highlight the importance of government and industry investment in research and development, as well as in educational initiatives. The call for more European investment in nuclear R&D to develop advanced fuels and innovative materials is a pertinent example. 4. Job Placement Best Practices Effective Job Placement Strategies: Share best practices for job placement, including collaboration with industry partners to ensure graduates find relevant positions. Emphasize the importance of programs like the Rising Stars Programme, which aims to uplift women and provide leadership skills through real-life experiences from established professionals in the field. Additional Insights Diversity and Inclusion: Stress the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. The NEA's focus on achieving gender equity in the workforce and the Rising Stars Programme are key initiatives that can be highlighted. Global Collaboration: Encourage international cooperation to address common challenges and share best practices. The need for wide-scale collaboration to meet the expected growth in demand for nuclear power technology was emphasized during the World Energy Congress 2024.

Discussion

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