International Trends in Nuclear Security Education

This need for human resource development in nuclear security was underlined at several International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conferences and Board of Governors’ Meetings. Successive IAEA Nuclear Security Plans, the Board of Governors agreed upon the most recent of which in September 2013, give high priority to assisting member States in establishing educational programs in nuclear security in order to ensure the sustainability of nuclear security improvements. The current Nuclear Security Plan covering 2014-2017 emphasizes the importance of existing capacities at international, regional and national levels while designing nuclear security academic programs. The International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN) was established in 2010 during an IAEA workshop by a group of experts from academia, international organizations, and professional nuclear material management associations. The INSEN is defined as a partnership between the IAEA and educational and research institutions, and competent authorities, whose mission is to promote excellence in nuclear security education in pursuit of the identified need for highly qualified nuclear security professionals. INSEN objectives are to promote among universities and other educational institutions worldwide the IAEA Nuclear Security Series No 12 (NSS-12) – Educational Programme in Nuclear Security setting out a model of a Nuclear Security Master of Science curriculum by (1) assisting in the development of comprehensive and up-to-date educational materials; (2) assisting in the development of faculty members in the area of nuclear security; and (3) promoting nuclear education and professional careers in nuclear security as the means of attracting the best and the brightest into the discipline. Partly because of the efforts of INSEN, nuclear security education has increased throughout the world. Lectures, courses, and entire programs have been or are currently being deployed. The purpose of this paper is to describe the trends seen in nuclear security education around the world over the last several years. A discussion of the courses and programs being offered will be reviewed.