BNS Conference-Study: Time to rebuild the nuclear workforce

Objective

The recent move back towards nuclear energy development, after years of stagnation in some European countries, brings many opportunities and challenges. One of them is the need for loads of competent and qualified personnel at all levels and all stages, from education and training, research and development to industrial deployment and operation. The responsibility to educate, train and qualify the people who will be those bringing nuclear energy and science to new heights belongs to diverse organisations. To start, there is a general policy making responsibility at the level of the Administrations in charge of Education and Energy, not only at university level, but also high schools and even for secondary education, to provide the necessary long-term perspective allowing the actors to engage.

Universities and high schools have for sure a central role in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) interdisciplinary education approach needed for innovation, economic growth, and addressing global challenges. Secondary schools, including at technical and professional level, have to raise interest in the Climate and Energy nexus, and in the specific role nuclear can play to decarbonise the future, something very close to the heart of the youth. Research Centres specialised in nuclear applications have high level expertise and tools to support education and training. Last but not least, the industry has a major responsibility by defining their needs in competencies and skills, to train the specialized workers and also to ensure the best transfer of knowledge between generations of newly appointed and senior active workers (and even retired ones), something quite critical in the nuclear field, but also in many other sectors.

The Belgian Nuclear Society, as a learned society, bringing together her individual nuclear experts and expertise of its Corporate members, invites main actors involved in education, training, qualification, knowledge transfer in the nuclear area to a focused half-day conference. This constitutes a unique opportunity to connect, reflect and explore how we can effectively meet the challenges ahead.

We will  have three sessions. The first will set the scene with a keynote speech about the situation in Belgium and an example from Czech Republic.  The second one for getting views from different actors or stakeholders, defining the needs, issues and ways forward. The final one providing room for discussions with all participants to define recommendations, lines for actions and conditions of success.

PROGRAMME

14:00    Registration

14:15    Opening and welcome address by Michèle
Auglaire, BNS President

14:30    Keynote Speech: “The Belgian
energy policy perspectives and role of sustainable nuclear energy” by Gerben
Croonenborghs, Head of Cabinet of the Minister of Energy Mathieu Bihet  

14:45    An example from abroad: “The case of
the Czech Republic” by Jana Kalivodová, Head of Unit Research,
development and support in nuclear energy, Czech Republic Ministry of Industry
and Trade

15:00    Defining needs, issues and ways forward:

·        “Education and Training in a new nuclear R&D era” by Michèle Coeck, Director
of SCK CEN Academy

·        “Industry needs and way forward, covering the Belgian
Nuclear Industry and Suppliers” by Serge Dauby, Belgian Nuclear Forum

·        “Needs and ways forward for the development of skilled
technicians for nuclear industry” by Marie Casini,
EQUANS

·        “Mandatory trainings for Class I & II nuclear
experts” by Pascale Absil, Director General FANC/AFCN

·        “Shaping the Future Nuclear Workforce: Policy-Driven
Vision for Strategic Educational Pathways” by Michel Giot, UCLouvain

·        “ENEN and EC Projects offer for complementing national
efforts in nuclear E&T” by Gabriel Pavel, ENEN

16:30    Coffee Break

17:00    Panel Discussion led by a moderator – Journalist Eddy Caekelberghs

                Participants to the Panel :

·        Alberto Fernandez (HEDERA)

·        Sebastien Laurant (Tractebel ENGIE)

·        Jessica Johnson (NuclearEurope)

·        Michel Giot (UCLouvain)

·        Hamid Aït Abderrahim (BNS)  

18:30    Conclusions
Lessons learned, recommendations and actions – BNS

19:00    End and Networking Drink

Presentations

The slides presented by the panel participants are available here. 

The photos taken during the event are available here.