IAEA Department Developing European Master's in Nuclear Security
"A national nuclear security regime stands or falls because of the quality of people involved," said Khammar Mrabit, director of the Office of Nuclear Security.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's Department of Nuclear Safety and Security will host a meeting Sept. 18 in Vienna, Austria during the 56th General Conference of the agency to inform member states of the latest developments in nuclear security education and training. Jerry Davydov of the IAEA Division of Public Information reports a key focus of the department's event will be the development of the European Master's Degree in Nuclear Security that is based on IAEA nuclear security guidance and standards.
Another on the agenda is establishing a nuclear security support centers network and assistance that is available to states interested in setting up a center, he reports.
"You may have the best legislation and regulations and state-of-the-art equipment, but unless you have a sufficient number of well-educated and trained staff, you will not necessarily have an effective and sustainable nuclear security infrastructure and nuclear security culture. Therefore, a national nuclear security regime stands or falls because of the quality of people involved," said Khammar Mrabit, director of the Office of Nuclear Security, quoted in Davydov's online report.
"Education and training are the cornerstones for ensuring sustainable improvements in nuclear security," added Senior Training Officer David Lambert. "They play an essential role in developing nuclear security expertise now and in the future."
According to the report, a group of universities in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom will launch the first comprehensive master's degree program in nuclear security during the first quarter of 2013.