New Postgraduate Programs in Nuclear Engineering

to meet the needs of the Canadian Nuclear Industry

16PBNC, October 2008

George Bereznai (UOIT) and Bill Garland (UNENE)

Paper presented by Benjamin Rouben

STATIONS 4 units each

YEAR IN-SERVICE

Pickering A 1971-73 Bruce A 1977-79 Pickering B 1983-86 Bruce B 1984-87 Darlington 1990-93

16 units currently operating2 units under refurbishment8-12 units to be refurbished

CANDU – CANada Deuterium Uranium

Ontario depends on nuclear generation for 50% of its electricity supplyApplications have been made to the regulator for 8 new units

First generation of engineers have retired, most of the second generation will retire in the next 10 years

Increased complexity of systems and regulatory climate result in need for many new hires with graduate degrees

Existing Postgraduate Programsin Nuclear Engineering in Canada

• There are a number of existing postgraduate programs in nuclear engineering at the Canadian universities listed in slide 9.

• The focus of the current presentation is a look at the new programs being offered.

UNENE

An industry driven partnership with universities and government to address the human resource challenge in the nuclear sector– Demographics– Future prospects– Other challenging fields

UNENE Objectives

• Enhance the supply of highly qualified graduates in nuclear engineering and science

• Reinvigorate university-based research and development in nuclear engineering and science focusing primarily on mid- to longer-term research

• Create a group of respected, university-based, nuclear experts for public and industry consultation.

UNENE Industry Partners

• Atomic Energy of Canada Limited• Bruce Power • Ontario Power Generation • Cameco• CANDU Owners Group • Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission • Nuclear Safety Solutions

UNENE University Partners• McMaster University• Queen’s University• Royal Military College of Canada• University of Toronto• University of Waterloo• University of Western Ontario• University of Ontario Institute of Technology• Ecole Polytechnique• University of Guelph• University of New Brunswick

The UNENE Model• Attract world-class faculty members to the partner

universities to conduct nuclear research and teaching• Provide funds to existing faculty members for nuclear

research and graduate assistantships• Make courses and expertise at one university

available to students from other universities• Offer a joint course-based M. Eng. degree in nuclear

engineering for the professional development of employees, in particular recent hires

• Leverage the industrial contributions via matching government grants as investments in the universities

First Phase Funding

• Cash Funding (since 2002)Industry: $ 7.8 MUniversities: $ 0.81 MNSERC: $ 7.12 M

• Other in-kind Support:Industry and Universities: $4.97M

Total impact ≥ $20.7M

Course-based M.Eng. Program in Nuclear Engineering

• Course delivery on weekends• Professors from UNENE member universities• Started in September 2003 • Cost: $2,500 for each of 10 courses• Typical class size: 10 - 20• Current active enrollment: 45• 30 graduates so far

• Two fields: – nuclear power– radiological and health physics

• M.A.Sc. is research-based (5 courses + thesis)• M.Eng. is course-based, with three options

– 10 courses– 8 courses + industrial research project– 7 courses + graduate research project

UOIT’s M.A.Sc. and M.Eng. Programs in Nuclear Engineering

HealthPhysics

ReactorControl

ThermalHydraulics

RadiationBiology

WasteManagement

ReactorPhysics

ReactorChemistry

EnvironmentalEffects

Simulation

Next Generation

CANDU

Future Plans• Graduate Nuclear Specialist Diplomas

– Fuel, Materials and Chemistry– Reactor Systems – Operation and Maintenance – Safety, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs– Health Physics– Radiological Applications

• PhD– Nuclear Power and Energy Applications– Radiological and Health Physics

Thank you!