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Nuclear Safeguards

A cross-divisional training path for the global context

First level Specializing Master

Nuclear Safeguards

Opening event with Rafael Mariano Grossi (IAEA)

Opening event with Rafael Mariano Grossi (IAEA)

Nuclear Safeguards

First level Specializing Master

Communication of ADMISSION

 Nuclear Safeguards

The organizers

European high level institutions for Nuclear Safeguard

The I Level Specializing Master is organized by the Department of Energy – Politecnico di Milano and the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), in collaboration with European Joint research center (EU JRC), Academic institution participating in the European Nuclear Education Network, ESARDA partners and several International organizations (e.g. IAEA).

Politecnico di Milano
ENEN
SaTE project

The relevance of a Specializing Master Program on Nuclear Safeguards

First Level Specializing Master Program on Nuclear Safeguards


The aim

The I Level Specializing Master course on Nuclear Safeguards gives the opportunity to train and develop the competences of employees in order to enhance the efficiency of their actions in the field of nuclear safeguards and support the continuous development of a professional, competent and motivated workforce.

This attitude contributes directly to both the national nuclear safety and the implementation of the countries’ safeguards obligations under relevant agreements.

The context

The nuclear safeguards system is a key element of the international regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Over decades it has evolved into a multifaceted set of legal and technical measures aimed at verifying the compliance of States with their non-proliferation commitments in the nuclear sector.

The need for training

Due to high demands on technical competence especially in the nuclear field, the ongoing availability of new information, development of new reactor types, new safety mechanisms and new assessment methodologies, there is a huge need for general, in depth and/or specialized training for the staff of NRAs.

The outcome

The I Level Specializing Master will be organized as a cross-divisional training path, involving political science-forensics-nuclear scientific and technological areas, aimed to form key figures ready to be involved in the nuclear safeguards sector.


Period

October 2021 – October 2022

Location

Italy – Politecnico di Milano, JRC Ispra

Europe – Labs to be defined

Language

English

Target

Professionals and officials, with and without nuclear background, from national organisations, public organisations, R&D centres, industries.

Awarded title

I level Specializing Master on Nuclear Safeguards’ Degree

The Specializing Master is characterized by 60 ECTS with a final formal certification.

Blended format

8 months of online modules;

5/6 Weeks of in-presence labs;

3 months of project work.


Didactic modules

Online modules

composed by digital contents (videos, quiz, additional materials), webinars, group activities

In-presence labs

held at Politecnico di Milano, JRC Labs in Italy and Europe and other European Labs which are part of the ENEN network

Project work

offers the opportunity to synthesise the knowledge acquired and critically apply it

  • 01. Introduction and basics
    • Nuclear technologies
    • Legal framework
    • Soft Skills
  • 02. History of non-proliferation and safeguards
    • History and Policy of Nuclear dual-use
    • EURATOM and IAEA Safeguards in the International Relations
    • Historical making of Proliferation risks and Non-Proliferation policies
  • 03. National and International legal frameworks
    • Basics of Non Proliferation Treaty
    • Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement
    • State regulators, State’s role, rights and responsibilities
  • 04. Fuel cycle and non-proliferation
    Elements of the fuel cycle: Mining, Conversion, Enrichment, Fuel fabrication, Reactors, Reprocessing, Waste Disposal, Aspects of Weaponisation, Physical Model/Pathway analysis
  • 05. Nuclear material accountancy and mathematical methods for nuclear safeguards
    • Facility Attachments and Euratom safeguards regulation
    • Nuclear material accountancy concepts
    • Analytical methods and game theoretical concepts
  • Basic Labs
    2 weeks of experimental activities and visits
  • 06. Methodology for implementation of safeguards
    • Legal basis for nuclear material safeguards
    • Tools to verify nuclear material accounts
    • Political and legal options of inspectorates to apply sanctions in case of violations
  • 07. Destructive analysis
    • Destructive Assay (DA) techniques
    • Practical exercises with detectors currently approved for safeguards inspections
  • 08. Non-destructive measurements
    • Non-Destructive Assays (NDA) used for the measurement of nuclear material
    • Introduction on the basic principles of NDA techniques
  • 09. Verification and monitoring techniques incl. containment and surveillance
    • Design Information Verification
    • Process monitoring approaches
    • Sealing technologies
  • 10. Export control
    • Main principles ruling nuclear trade control
    • Analysis of international and regional legally and politically instruments
    • General principles of international trade
  • 11. Nuclear security
    • Locations and use of nuclear and radiological materials
    • Risks of misuse of nuclear and radiological materials
    • Basics of physical protection, detection technologies and nuclear forensics analysis
  • Advanced Labs
    3/4 weeks of training on the job
  • 12. Future challenges in safeguards
    Novel technologies, approaches and methodologies
  • Project work
    Individual work or in pairs, resume and deepen the work done during the Advanced Labs

Calendar

The I Level Specializing Master has a duration of around 12 months, from October 2021 to October 2022.

Download the full calendar

Timing

Before the I Level Specializing Master start, here are some deadlines and dates to remember.
  • April 15th, 2021
    Application opening
  • June 22th, 2021
    Application deadline EXTENDED
  • June 16th, 2021
    Start of the selection phase
  • July 15th, 2021
    Communication of admission
  • October 14th, 2021
    I Level Specializing Master opening event
  • From October 2021 to October 2022
    I Level Specializing Master didactic activities

Scientific committee

Marco Enrico Ricotti

Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Scientific Director

Willem Janssens

European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC) in Ispra, Italy
Co-director

Gabriel Lazaro Pavel

European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), Belgium
Co-director

Jacques Baute

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Austria

Nicole Erdmann

European Commission, DG ENER

Elina Martikka

STUK – Säteilyturvakeskus, Finland

Klaas van der Meer

SCK-CEN, Belgium

Quentin Michel

Université de Liège (ULg), France

Irmgard Niemeyer

Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany

Laura Rockwood

Open Nuclear Network, USA

Peter Schwalbach

Nuclear Safeguards Expert

Elena Sokova

Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), Austria

Matteo Gerlini

Nuclear Historian

Eligibility and admission

Here you can find the answers to the FAQ about what to send for applying, selection methods, fees and scholarships.

You need to download the application module, compile it and send it to master-nuclearsafeguards@polimi.it before June 15th, 2021. You need to attach the following documents:

  • degree certificate with ECTS or Diploma Supplement (it is required to have a Bachelor degree in one of the following: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, Law, Economics and Political Science);
  • CV in European format;
  • ID document;
  • motivation letter;
  • [optional] English knowledge certification for at least the B2 level (you can also self-certify it);
  • [optional] support letter from Government, Institution, Foundation, Professor.

The call on the POLIMI website is here .

All the candidates will be evaluated on:

  • CV in European format;
  • motivation letter;
  • Bachelor specialization (plus if nuclear specialized or if nuclear topics are included);
  • working field (plus if nuclear);
  • support letter from Government, Institution, Foundation, Professor.

Yes, you should! If you are admitted, you will receive enough information to familiarize with the basic principles of the nuclear industry.

Yes, you will not need to travel to apply.

If you are admitted, you will follow the didactic modules online; your presence will be required only when the Labs take place (Basic Labs in February 2022, Italy – Politecnico di Milano, JRC Ispra; Advanced Labs in June 2022, European Labs to be defined).

This is a financially supported I Level Specializing Master for EXTRA EU and INSC (Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation) Countries originated students/trainees. So, if you come from an EXTRA EU country, you may obtain one of the 10 scholarships fully funded by ENEN.

Other students may obtain one of the 10 partial scholarships provided by POLIMI.

The Master fees are:

  • 14500 € of enrolment fee;
  • 500 € of tax fee.

We are envisaging a weekly workload from 12 to 20 hours.

There will be synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities. For each week you'll have to:

  • watch and study online materials (whenever you prefer),
  • attend around 2 webinars (1,5 hour synchronous with teachers and other students) generally in the afternoon (Monday-Friday, 14/16 pm)
  • perform a small activity with other students (discussion, project work, etc..)


Application closed

The only requirement is to have a bachelor degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, Law, Economics and Political and Legal Science.

A nuclear specialized Bachelor or nuclear topics at the Bachelor level, as well as working in nuclear field, are considered as a plus.

It is recommended that you have a B2 level of English knowledge. You can also self-certify it.