Nuclear Education and Training

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) first published in 2000 Nuclear Education
and Training: Cause for Concern?, which highlighted significant issues in the
availability of human resources for the nuclear industry. Ten years on,
Nuclear Education and Training: From Concern to Capability considers what has
changed in that time and finds that, while some countries have taken positive
actions, in a number of others human resources could soon be facing serious
challenges in coping with existing and potential new nuclear facilities. This
is exacerbated by the increasing rate of retirement as the workforce ages.
This report provides a qualitative characterisation of human resource needs
and appraises instruments and programmes in nuclear education and training
initiated by various stakeholders in different countries. In this context, it
also examines the current and future uses of nuclear research facilities for
education and training purposes. Regarding the nuclear training component of
workforce competence, it outlines a job taxonomy which could be a basis for
addressing the needs of workers across this sector. It presents the taxonomy
as a way of enhancing mutual recognition and increasing consistency of
education and training for both developed and developing countries.