Education of Russian Safeguards Specialists: A Key Component of Russia’s Nuclear Material Security System

Within the framework of the joint Gosatomnadzor (Russia)/DOE (USA) Program, the first in the world Master of Science (MS) Graduate Program for young specialists training in nuclear materials physical protection, control and accountability (MPC&A) was developed and is now a reality at MEPhI.The major objective in developing the MS Graduate Program was to provide training of the specialists who will be able to maintain and improve nuclear safeguards for non-proliferation in Russia.The concept of training program is presented together with description of developed lecture courses and laboratories. Current status and experience gained at MEPhI in implementation of the MS Graduate Program in nuclear material physical protection, control and accounting are discussed. It is analysed the role of cooperation including international cooperation in solving the problem of training and re-training of specialists at different levels.