INSEN, NSSC holds annual meetings

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) detailed the meeting of the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN) that took place earlier in August, at which academic institutions around the world discussed educational priorities.

During the INSEN meeting, representatives from approximately 70 universities and institutes provided their implementation of action plans for their programs relating to nuclear science, technology and security. This included the development of teaching materials and the planning of professional development programs and courses.

The network is made up of 139 member universities and institutions, with 50 countries represented.

“My university has benefited from the INSEN professional development courses and teaching materials,” Oum Keltoum Hakam, a professor at Ibn Tofail University in Morocco, said. “We noted that nuclear security education is spreading in many universities worldwide and hopefully will help promote nuclear security and develop the next generation of nuclear security professionals.”

A meeting of the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centers (NSSC) also took place around the same time.

Their meeting largely focused on strategic priorities and to develop means of increasing collaborative efforts between the NSSC and the IAEA which would likely entail a larger training role for the organization within the IAEA security training programs and to be involved in the maintenance and calibration of security and other related equipment.

Members from INSEN and the NSSC also met in a joint meeting where they discussed future initiatives and focuses primarily on where work of the two networks combines.