Russia to Join Nuclear Management Academy

The National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute) will become the first Russian university to launch a MA program meeting IAEA standards in the area of nuclear management technologies.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia will launch a MA program meeting IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) standards in the area of nuclear management technologies for the first time. The first students will enroll in August and join the program at MEPhI on September 1.

Earlier, Mikhail Strikhanov, rector of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, and Nikolai Geraskin, head of the Physical Engineering Education Center, signed an agreement with IAEA. According to its provisions, MEPhI will become an official member of IAEA’s International Nuclear Management Academy.

MEPhI graduate Mikhail Chudakov, now an IAEA Deputy Director General, told RIA Novosti that the academy’s educational framework had been drafted.

"IAEA experts visit universities wishing to join the academy," he said. "This is needed to graduate high-class experts boasting a certain range of nuclear technology expertise in line with a standard format."

The University of Manchester was the first to join this process, and MEPhI is next. According to Chudakov, Tokyo University will be the third to offer the program.

Chudakov believes that the nuclear sector’s sustained high level of safety and security depends on skillful decisions and the effective management of INMA-monitored processes.