Nuclear skills and education are an increasingly important challenge for NEA member countries, all of which need to have a new generation of highly-qualified scientists and engineers to ensure the continued safe and efficient use of nuclear technologies for a wide range of industrial, scientific and medical purposes. The NEA has therefore developed the NEA Nuclear Education, Skills and Technology (NEST) Framework, which held its third Management Board meeting on 16-18 September 2020.
During the three-day meeting, the Management Board discussed two new projects to be launched: Medical Applications, Nuclear Technologies, Radioprotection and Safety (MANTRAS) and Building competence, Expert knowledge, Applied techniques, Safe waste management, Train fellows (BEAST). MANTRAS will organise training activities on applications in the medical sector. It will focus particularly on the development of new technologies for future nuclear applications in medicine and dosimetry, including experimental production of radioisotopes and radiotherapy techniques. BEAST will focusing on the radiological characterisation of nuclear facilities & decontamination technologies, clearance of buildings and radioactive waste, and characterisation of radioactive waste.
The Management Board also discussed the development of a strategy on gender equality and the ‘’NEST Skills Passport’’ which would record the skills, competences and trainings completed by NEST fellows. The next Management Board meeting is scheduled to take place on the 9-10 March 2021.
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