The IRPS is a five day training course that offers a thorough exploration of the international radiological protection system. The programme is designed for professionals who wish to understand how protection standards are developed and how they should be applied in practice.
The school is organised by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in co-operation with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and the Centre for Radiation Protection Research (CRPR) at Stockholm University.
The course aims to prepare future leaders in the field through the following objectives:
The Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) serves as a leading forum for global cooperation and the establishment of best practices. It contributes directly to the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and produces technical documents that define the state of the art in Radiological Protection (RP).
To ensure this expertise is preserved, the NEA developed a dedicated learning programme. This initiative focuses on the context of RP culture within the international system teaching how it is applied in emerging circumstances and how it evolves through real-world experience.
The modern system of Radiological Protection is the result of a century of expertise in national and international fora. As the uses of ionizing radiation and nuclear technology expanded, so did the need for a unified global framework.
Today, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) provides the core recommendations and guidance that protect people and the environment. These principles are the global standard, serving as the foundation for:
The system is not static. Through the CRPPH, experts share practical feedback and collective understanding accumulated over many decades. This ensures the RP system reflects both state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and the real-world experiences of those applying these standards in their home countries.
A vast library of technical guidance and standards is available to the public. However, while these documents provide the technical facts, they often miss the "why" behind the rules.
The historical evolution, nuances, and "between-the-lines" meanings of these regulations are rarely documented. To effectively apply Radiological Protection to both current and emerging situations, experts must understand the pillars underpining the system.
To progress the field, the next generation of leading experts needs to master more than just the text of a regulation. They must understand the history and logic that allow for professional judgment in complex scenarios.
The IRPS programme has evolved over the last editions to address developments in radiological protection recommendations, standards, and related implementation and practices. The following subjects are covered during the five-day programme:
Sessions are built on a mix of presentations and illustrative case study discussions to introduce practical aspects of the implementation of RP actions. Other aspects such as stakeholder engagement skills are deliberated as an undercurrent of the more technical aspects of these topics.
This course is aimed at early- to mid-career experts with relevant education and ideally three to five years of work experience in the field of radiological protection. Applications from junior experts or PhD or Post-doc students, with advanced knowledge in the field of RP, can be considered.
IRPS participants may hold positions at government ministries, regulatory authorities, research institutions, nuclear fuel cycle industries or other industrial or medical sectors, where their jobs include providing policy and practical level advice on RP matters.
Even though medical radiological protection experts are welcome to join the course, the application of ionising radiation in medical diagnostics or treatment is not a main focus of the training.
The teaching for each module is practical, dynamic and interactive. Talks and presentations from radiological protection experts are accompanied by case-based discussions and group exercises. Participants will also have the opportunity to address relevant soft skills.
Lecturers take into account the participants' own experiences to keep discussions directly relevant to their situation and concerns insofar as possible.
All course instruction, course materials and discussions are in English.
Candidates have to meet the following two minimum requirements:
The call for applications usually opens between mid-February and mid-April. Candidates must submit their applications through an application platform in this period to be considered. Notification of selection is sent to the applicants around one month after the end of the application phase. Candidates should not make travel arrangements before receiving a confirmation of their selection. Registration fees are fixed annually for the 5-day course, including coffee/tea and lunch breaks, as well as social events.
Participants are requested to study the learning material provided on the IRPS online platform and to be familiar with a small set of reference documents before the course. Details are sent in due time to participants, together reference readings.
On completion of the programme, participants received a certificate of attendance.
University credits (ECTS) may also be awarded to participants and will be defined for each IRPS.
The International Radiological Protection School Advisory Board provides overall direction and strategy for the implementation of the IRPS. The Advisory Board is composed of well-respected radiological protection experts from around the world.
