2009 Report to Government on National Research and

SLCs and other avenues has also contributed <strong>to</strong> the improving situation, although
questions have been raised about the effectiveness of this support.
4.52 It is <strong>to</strong> be hoped that the establishment of the NNL will provide further impetus <strong>to</strong>
skills improvement but CoRWM has concerns about how training and provision of
research skills will be reconciled with the need for commercial operation. While
NNL will be a cus<strong>to</strong>mer-funded organisation and it is appropriate that it operates
as “just another supplier” in most circumstances, it is important <strong>to</strong> identify and
agree those areas in which a strategic role needs <strong>to</strong> be played. In these areas it
will be necessary <strong>to</strong> ensure that arrangements are in place <strong>to</strong> facilitate delivery of
such strategic support. Skills provision is a strategic area and it is unclear <strong>to</strong>
CoRWM how NNL funding for this will be assured.
4.53 There is still a shortage of Master-level courses with a significant nuclear
component. In addition, EPSRC has now terminated its funding for the NTEC
Masters’ programme so, although NDA has provided interim funding for <strong>2009</strong>, its
future is unclear. The supply of relevant, non-nuclear, research skills in other
disciplines is perceived as better but in some areas, like geoscience, not as
healthy as it should be. Particular deficiencies remain in the numbers of MSc and
PhD graduates in key sub-disciplines for implementing geological disposal, such
as hydrogeology and numerical modelling. Since other countries’ geological
disposal programmes are likely <strong>to</strong> overlap with that of the UK, as will other
challenging and attractive international projects, such as carbon capture and
sequestration, CoRWM believes there is significant risk in over-reliance on
attracting this expertise from overseas.
4.54 Despite some positive developments, research with its integral skills training in
areas relevant <strong>to</strong> the R&D needed <strong>to</strong> underpin the implementation of geological
disposal, remains fragmented overall. Responsibility for the provision of R&D
skills is split between many organisations and there appears <strong>to</strong> be little effective
national leadership and insufficient strategic direction.
4.55 Although not focused specifically on the nuclear industry, Cogent is well placed <strong>to</strong>
provide guidance on the basic skills and training requirements of the industry
through its employer-driven approach and alliance with NSAN. However, it is not
directly involved in the provision of higher level research training of the sort
required <strong>to</strong> underpin the MRWS programme nor is it in a position <strong>to</strong> make
strategic judgements on the research programmes of which such training is part,
especially those <strong>to</strong>wards the fundamental end of the research spectrum.
Consequently, CoRWM considers that additional expertise would be required
within Cogent <strong>to</strong> enable it <strong>to</strong> provide effective national leadership and strategic
direction for the provision of R&D skills pertinent <strong>to</strong> the management of higher
activity wastes.
CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 78 of 151