Citation:
A. Williams, D.R. Boyle, A. Mohagheghi, Ashley Nilsen , “Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) Overview and Status Update”, 52nd Annual Meeting of the Institute for Nuclear Materials Management (INMM), Palm Desert, CA, July 17-21, 2011.
Abstract:
To better achieve their respective program goals amidst the growing Middle East regional interest in nuclear energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Nonproliferation and International Security (NA-24/NA-241) and the Department of State’s (DOS) Partnership for Nuclear Security (PNS) recognized the need for a regional educational institute to increase intellectual capacity in nuclear energy safety, safeguards and security. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University have partnered with Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research to develop and operate the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) at Khalifa University campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE. GNEII provides an institutional capability for nuclear energy infrastructure development emphasizing education in nuclear energy safety, safeguards, and security. GNEII’s goal is to be an indigenous, self-supporting regional education center for future nuclear energy professionals working in government and industry. Under the guidance and sponsorship of the NNSA/NA241 and DOS/PNS, a 12-week GNEII pilot course has recently been completed by 10 Emirati students in Abu Dhabi. This paper discusses the historical development of GNEII, describes the institute’;s structure and educational curriculum, and reports on the key results from the pilot course. The paper also provides a program status update and describes the GNEII project team’s plans for the institute’s future.