Year
2016
Abstract
To mark the end of the initial agreement that founded the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII), the institute is celebrating its efforts to develop a responsible nuclear energy culture and institutionalize key nuclear energy safety, safeguards and security (‘3S’) and nonproliferation norms in the future decision-makers of the Gulf-region nuclear power programs. GNEII is a strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University and United Arab Emirates stakeholders (the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, and Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority), United States implementers (Sandia National Laboratories and Texas A&M University’s Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute), and U.S. Government sponsors (Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation and Department of State’s Partnership for Nuclear Security). The partnership has enabled GNEII to realize its vision as a regional resource for human resource development for peaceful nuclear power programs. The end of the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding to develop and implement GNEII occurs in 2016, after five years of successful operations. GNEII was able to design, organize and conduct a semester-long professional development course based on an in-depth, novel integrated nuclear energy 3S curriculum. Called the Fundamentals Course, it has produced 99 graduates from five Gulf-region countries across regulators, federal entities, utilities and research organizations. In addition, the institute has established the foundation of a research program that focuses on integrated 3S methodologies, nuclear infrastructure development, and regional scientific collaborations. Research efforts to date include more than 30 capstone projects, as well as several conference papers and journal article submissions. GNEII’s success is evidenced in high-level governmental support, consistent inquiries from interested regional entities and its inclusion as a formal part of national professional development programs. GNEII’s underlying paradigm couples a comprehensive understanding of the interacting technical and operational elements of responsible nuclear energy programs with the complexity of real-world challenges to nuclear energy programs. This analytical perspective allows GNEII to continue on its path to become the regional leader in nuclear energy safety, safeguards and security as it enters the next phase of institutional evolution and expansion.