28-31 October. MEPhI held a consultancy meeting to discuss the issues of management in nuclear technologies and requirements for a Master's Degree Program in Nuclear Management.

The meeting was attended by the Section head of IAEA Nuclear Knowledge Management Section John De Grosbois, Senior Officer of the IAEA Nuclear Knowledge Management Section Fumio Adachi, Professor from University of Tokyo Mitsuru Uesaka (Japan), Director of the Faculty of Engineering at North West University Harry Wichers (South Africa), Course Manager from North West University Lilian Yvonne van Wyk (South Africa), Professor at the University of Manchester John W. Roberts (UK).

MEPhI was presented by the Head of the Educational-methodical center for engineering and physical education N.I.Geraskin, Director of the Institute of International Relations B.M.Tulinov, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Economics of High Technologies A.V. Putilov, Deputy Director of the Economic-Analytical Institute V.V.Kharitonov.

Last year leading nuclear engineering universities from across the world have started work on developing an IAEA-endorsed curricula for a Master’s programme on management for nuclear energy professionals. The goal is to have universities implement such programmes through the Virtual Nuclear Management University (VNMU). The necessity of program creation is determined by the fact that at the moment there is no single international program, which takes into account the specifics of training highly competent managers in technical universities, who are so necessary for the successful development of nuclear energy. This issue is particularly topical for those countries which have just started to develop nuclear power.

To develop a single international programme IAEA experts and representatives of eight world's universities, which participate in this mission, have to compare and analyze educational courses on nuclear governance in each of the partner universities, to assess the possibility of integrating these courses into a single master's program.

New program on management in the nuclear industry is a big step forward to create qualified management personnel for nuclear power and is aimed at those who in future will be able to occupy a key position in the field of nuclear education and state regulation in their countries.

During the visit in MEPhI Professor of the University of Manchester John W. Roberts has started a training course on nuclear power in the UK. He gave the first lecture for students and postgraduates of MEPhI, which was successful and aroused great interest among the audience. Next course will be held remotely.