THORIUM AS AN ENERGY SOURCE - Opportunities for Norway ...

Research, Development, Education and Training
10 research institutes or private companies from 19 countries. Twenty-six partners are also
members of ENEN.
The aim of this project is to better integrate European education and training in nuclear
engineering and safety to combat the decline in both student numbers and teaching
establishments, thus providing the necessary competence and expertise for the continued safe use
of nuclear energy and other uses of radiation in industry and medicine. The project focuses on a
harmonized approach to education and training in nuclear engineering in Europe, and its
implementation, including the better integration of national (governmental as well as industrial)
resources and capabilities.
The expected result is an operational network for training and life-long learning schemes as well
as on academic education at the master, doctoral and post-doctoral level, underpinning:
• Sustainability of Europe's excellence in nuclear technology, thereby contributing to the
creation of a European Nuclear Knowledge Management Strategy
• Preservation of competence and expertise for the continued safe use of nuclear energy and
other uses of radiation in industry and medicine
• Harmonized approaches to safety and best practices, both operational and regulatory, at
European level within and across all Member States
• Harmonized approach for training and education in nuclear engineering.
In the network:
• The roadmap for nuclear education in Europe as developed and demonstrated in the Euratom
FP5 project ENEN is implemented.
• The end-user relevance of the education at all levels by recruiting (part-time) professors out of
industry and by providing (re-)training of nuclear industry personnel is warranted.
• Advanced courses, preferably at selected centres of excellence, are given:
• Bridging leading edge research and new knowledge generation with teaching and education.
• Creating nuclei of excellence for doctoral schools in nuclear engineering and sciences.
• Transnational access to research infrastructure, owned by governmental as well as industrial
organizations, is facilitated.
11.5.5.2 The ENEN project
In the strategic goal for the European Union, the Lisbon EU 2000 summit meeting says:
“Although the number of nuclear scientists and technologists may appear to be sufficient today in
some countries, there are indicators that future expertise is at risk. In most countries, there are now
fewer comprehensive, high quality nuclear technology programs at universities than before. The
ability of universities to attract top quality students, meet future staffing requirements of the
nuclear industry, and conduct leading-edge research is becoming seriously compromised.”
The “European Nuclear Engineering Network” (ENEN) project was launched under the 5th
framework EC program in January 2002. It established the basis for conserving nuclear
knowledge and expertise, created a European High Education Area for nuclear disciplines, and
initiated the implementation of the Bologna declaration in nuclear disciplines.
ENEN was established afterwards on the basis of the European High Education Area by the
partners of the ENEN and given a more permanent character and a legal status by the
foundation of the ENEN Association, a non-profit international organization.
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