Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute class of 2012 kicks off today with 20 students from the GCC

Khalifa University has hosted today the opening of the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) 2012 Fellows. The four-module, sixteen-week course includes 20 students from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. GNEII national stakeholders represent Khalifa University, Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA), Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). 

The course will be carried out in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia), Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University at the US and Khalifa University. GNEII’s Fundamentals Course offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to build a broad knowledge base among course participants and ensures familiarity with the important topics of nuclear safety, safeguards, and security.  

Designed to accommodate a professional schedule, the curriculum is structured to meet the needs of GNEII’s target audience of future decision-makers who are scheduled to work in their country’s nuclear technology programs. The 3S Fundamentals Course consists of classroom lecture material, hands-on demonstrations, simulations and a Capstone (applied research) project.  

"Last year we started the world’s first institute that provides a unique opportunity to learn 3S nuclear energy methodologies, Safety, Security and Safeguards.”, said Abdelaziz Mohammed Eid Al Madhloum, Interim Manager of GNEII at the opening ceremony, “We are pleased to announce that this year we have doubled the number of fellows from last year’s pilot course and expanded it to include colleagues from the GCC. We look forward to include fellows from other countries that will benefit from the experience brought by world-class instructors in the fields of nuclear energy." 

GNEII is a strategic partnership with a long-term vision of developing a responsible and informed nuclear nonproliferation, energy safety, safeguards, and security culture in individuals who will be making decisions within Middle Eastern nuclear energy programs.