Description/achievement of initiative
The mission of the World Nuclear University (WNU) is to strengthen the international community of people and institutions so as to guide and further develop:
- The safe and increasing use of nuclear power as the one proved technology able to produce clean energy on a large global scale; and
- The many valuable applications of nuclear science and technology that contribute to sustainable agriculture, medicine, nutrition, industrial development, management of freshwater resources and environmental protection.
Through a worldwide network that coordinates, supports and draws on the strengths of established institutions of nuclear learning, the WNU promotes academic rigour and high professional ethics in all phases of nuclear activity, from fuel and isotope supply to decommissioning and waste management.
While looking to the future, the WNU will strengthen capabilities to manage, and responsibly dispose of, the waste legacy of early weapons and power programmes in compliance with rigorous standards of custodianship and environmental protection.
Implementation methodologies
Since 2003, WNU has provided people with the experiences and perspectives required to lead effectively. The Summer Institute (SI), is an annual leadership development programme, preparing future industry leaders and decision-makers for their roles in clean electricity production. Similarly, the School on Radiation Technologies (RT School) prepares future leaders in applications of ionizing radiation in medicine, industry and agriculture.
WNU fosters the innovation necessary for progress in these sectors. WNU Alumni join Networks for Nuclear Innovations to collaborate on innovative solutions to important issues in their industries. Other programmes (individual coaching for high-level executives, national workshops, effective communications, and Nuclear Olympiad) target specific gaps in these sectors.
WNU programmes have welcomed 8000 participants from 90 countries - from the nuclear industry, regulatory agencies, research centers, academia, medical and industrial facilities, noting an increased women's participation over time. Networking and sharing the latest knowledge are at the core of WNU programmes, and are instrumental in ensuring the intersectional and global mindset required by leaders to realize the SDGs.
WNU publications are well-regarded internationally as authoritative reference texts for these sectors. WNU social media engagement and reports provide regular updates on specific achievements and the results of collaborative work. See more at https://www.world-nuclear-university.org/publications.
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
When implementing programmes, WNU identifies and addresses the challenges in areas such as effective use of nuclear technologies to save lives and optimize the industrial process, commissioning of radioactive waste repositories; nuclear development projects, particularly relating to adherence to budget, construction plans and safety standards; management of the nuclear fuel cycle to ensure the security of supply; effective regulatory regimes and enforcement of the non-proliferation regime. WNU tailors teaching materials and methods to the skills required by professionals in addressing such issues.
Coordination mechanisms/governance structure
The applications of nuclear and radiation technologies directly contribute to SDGs 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 17. World Nuclear University (WNU) is a growing global network of 76 institutions committed to education, training and leadership development for the nuclear energy, radioisotope production and radiation technologies sectors, and actively contributes to the realization of these SDGs.
With the founding supporters International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency, World Nuclear Association and World Association of Nuclear Operators, WNU facilitates cooperative links between companies, industries, nations, and different areas of the nuclear and radiation technologies sectors.
Partner(s)
Governments:
Government of Argentina - Balseiro Institute Atomic Energy Commission
Government of Australia - Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organization
Government of Brazil - Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission
Government of Chile - Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission
Government of France - Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucleaires (CEA)
Government of Republic of Korea - Ministry of Science and Technology
Government of United States of America - Department of Energy
Major Groups:
World Nuclear Association (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
UN System:
International Atomic Energy Agency (Austria)
Other intergovernmental organizations:
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA-OECD) (France)
Other:
Atomic Institute of Austrian Universities (Austria)
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (Belgium)
European Commission (Belgium)
University of Sofia and Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria)
University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (Canada)
Tsinghua University, Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology (China)
Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic)
Nuclear Research Institute REZ (Czech Republic)
European Nuclear Engineering Network (European Community)
Helsinki University of Technology (Finland)
Lappeenranta University of Technology (Finland)
Universite Joseph Fourier (France)
Network of Competence in Nuclear Technology (Germany)
Technical University Munich (Germany)
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Training School (India)
Shalhaveth Freier Center for Peace, Science and Technology (Israel)
CIRTEN Consortium (Italy)
IUSS-University of Pavia: European School of Advanced Studies in Nuclear and Ionizing Technologies (Italy)
International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Italy)
Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan)
Tokyo University (Japan)
National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico)
Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences (Pakistan)
Asian Network for Higher Education in Nuclear Technology (Republic of Korea)
Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Republic of Korea)
Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (Republic of Korea)
Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (Russian Federation)
Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)
North West University (South Africa)
Polytechnical University of Madrid (Spain)
Swedish Centre for Nuclear Technology (Sweden)
National Science Centre "Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology" (Ukraine)
National Technical University of Ukraine Kiev Polytechnic Institute (Ukraine)
Sevastopol National Institute for Nuclear Energy and Industry (Ukraine)
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev (Ukraine)
Nuclear Academics Industrial Liaison Seminar (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
University of Manchester (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
World Association of Nuclear Operators (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Argonne National Laboratory (United States of America)
Oregon State University (leader of the Western Nuclear Science Alliance (United States of America)
Texas A&M (leader of Southwest Consortium) (United States of America)