Citation:
D.R. Boyle, A. H. Mohageghi, A.D. Williams, “GNEII — Instilling Global Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security, and Safeguards in Developing Countries”, 51st Annual Meeting for the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, Maryland, July 11-15, 2010.
Abstract:
Under US government sponsorship, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University are working with mid-east regional authorities to establish a nuclear power-related educational institute in the region. The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) will seek to instill globalstandards for safety, security, and safeguards in regional personnel destined to work on the policy and technical aspects of nuclear power in middle-eastern countries. SNL and NSSPI, partnered with the Khalifa University of Science, Technology, and Research and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, plan to jointly establish the institute. GNEII will initially focus on students from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with a plan to expand its activities to include more countries throughout the region. The goal is to establish GNEII as a fully indigenous, university-associated, graduate credit-granting regional education program providing both classroom instruction and hands-on experience. Establishing GNEII on a firm foundation of regional ‘buy-in’ will enable the institute to become a source of technnical collaboration and scientific excellence between the Western and Muslim worlds. GNEII also promotes US, SNL, and NSSPI interests in developing a nuclear energy security and safety culture, increasing collaboration between thenuclear energy security and safety communities, and implementing global standards for nuclear energy expansion in the Middle East. The ultimate objective is for GNEII to be autonomous, regionally funded and staffed with personnel capable of teaching all GNEII courses, five years after its inauguration. The paper will discuss the institute’s origin, management approach, implementation schedule, and planned curriculum