On 10 December 2003 the Agency's Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy, Yuri Sokolov, transmitted the following paper, which reflects this initial effort.

During 2004, WNA and IAEA will cooperate to convert these valuable general concepts into practical WNU activities:

The Agency understands that the World Nuclear University, inaugurated on the 4 September 2003, has a mission to strengthen the international community of people and institutions in their efforts to further develop:

• The safe and increasing use of nuclear power as a proven technology able to produce clean energy on a global scale; and
• The many valuable applications of nuclear science and technology that contribute to sustainable agriculture, medicine, nutrition, industrial development, management of fresh water resources and environmental protection.

The Agency has been supportive in assisting WNU, particularly during the early formative stages, to define its mission and focus, thus avoiding duplication and preventing potential rivalries and competition for the same resources.

This paper represents the Agency common approach in supporting WNU with the understanding that the Agency's interaction and support to WNU should be coordinated through a single focal point.

As a start, it has been agreed that it will be appropriate for the Agency to:

1. Cooperate with WNU in activities aimed at improving the scope and quality of relevant nuclear science and technology-related educational courses worldwide. One particular aspect is course harmonization across the participating universities.
2. Offer students from developing countries access to good quality education courses in WNU member universities through dedicated fellowships, specific training courses, workshops and summer schools.
3. Promote the use of distance learning techniques for nuclear education by providing WNU access to Agency training material and joint participation in the development of new courses.
4. Work with WNU on attracting attention and increasing the number of students trained in nuclear science and technology worldwide by implementing joint outreach activities, facilitate networking in regions and involving students in innovative projects, field activities, etc.

Following is an initial list of support actions¹ that can be implemented in 2004 and 2005:

I. Provision of high quality training and/or training material to the member universities of WNU network²:

A. Training material and courses on energy planning, reactor simulator training, radioactive waste management; nuclear knowledge management; reactor technology.

B. Training material in nuclear safety, radiation protection, waste safety, nuclear security.

C. Training material and courses on nuclear non-power technology and applications, nuclear medicine, nuclear techniques in agriculture.

D. Relevant courses and other training materials of the Agency's technical cooperation activities, wherever it is considered appropriate to involve WNU.

E. Contributions to courses/course modules on the Agency's safeguards system and its role in the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

F. Training on elements of nuclear law.

II. TC-supported fellowships at University Networks of WNU.

A number of TC-sponsored fellowships could be implemented in WNU member universities where the Agency has an existing programmatic activity within on-going TC programme, or when there are specific requests from recipient Member States to support such fellowships. Three institutions - MEPhI (Russia, University of Pavia (Italy), and University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) - would meet this option at present. All of them are working with the Agency and are also founding members of WNU. In addition, WNU would be strongly encouraged to fund additional relevant fellowships through its network and contributors.

III. Facilitated access to INIS and the Agency's Library.

Nuclear information resources, made available to WNU students, may involve (subject to resource allocation) some short visits and training in Nuclear Information Management at IAEA headquarters for students of WNU.

IV. Inviting WNU to relevant Agency meetings and providing Agency facilities as a focal point/venue for WNU meetings,

V. Providing lecturers, where appropriate (subject to resource allocation) and especially for key training events (such as major summer school and workshops of WNU).

 

¹The IAEA's recognition in all of the above activities is necessary as it underpins our assistance to Member States.

²Use of all IAEA training material by WNU is unrestricted, but when used proper reference should be made to the IAEA.