UAE students get nuclear internship in South Korea

Ten UAE national students have returned to the UAE from South Korea after successfully graduating from an eight-week nuclear energy internship programme, organised by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), in partnership with the International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS), a subsidiary of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

The 10 undergraduate students from Khalifa University (KU) gained valuable hands-on experience, completed intensive training on nuclear energy systems and received an introduction to Korean culture.

The second edition of the internship programme, which commenced in 2016 with the successful graduation of the first batch of 10 Emirati students, sought to nurture students’ academic knowledge while simultaneously providing them with experience in the form of on-the-job training. The programme is the result of ENEC and its subsidiary Nawah Energy Company’s commitment to developing UAE national capabilities in nuclear energy and STEM subjects through education, training and scholarships programmes, in line with the Abu Dhabi Plan and UAE Centennial 2071.

The UAE national students visited and have been trained at some of Korea’s leading science research centres and industrial parks, and the country’s most advanced nuclear energy plants. The students also enjoyed learning about Korean culture during several weekend tours of Busan and Daejeon.

The internship programme was organised by ENEC and Nawah together with KEPCO, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Korea Plant Service & Engineering (KPS), KEPCO Nuclear Fuel (KNF), KEPCO Engineering & Construction (KEPCO E&C), KHNP Global Training Center (GTC), KINGS and the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MoTIE), Korea Nuclear Association (KNA), Shin Hanul 1&2 Nuclear Power Plant Construction Site, KHNP Central Research Institute (CRI), and KEPCO Research Institute (KEPRI).

The students began their journey on the KINGS campus in Ulsan, Korea where they took part in a series of nuclear energy familiarisation courses, before commencing with on-the-job training at a variety of research facilities, nuclear energy plants and institutions around South Korea. The programme was designed to not only give the students onsite experience but also introduce them to key organisations in the nuclear industry.

ENEC and Nawah offer a wide range of scholarships, training and education programs for UAE Nationals, which include undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational courses spanning every aspect of the nuclear energy industry.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) is working to use nuclear energy to deliver clean, efficient and reliable electricity to the United Arab Emirates that is needed to support the UAE’s social and economic growth.

Established by decree in December 2009 by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, ENEC represents all aspects of the UAE peaceful nuclear energy programme.

Driven by a culture of safety, ENEC’s overriding priority is ensuring the safety of the UAE community, employees and the environment.

About Nawah Energy Company: A subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and partially owned by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Nawah has been mandated to safely operate and maintain Units 1 to 4 in Barakah in adherence to the highest standards of safety, security and quality, and to the UAE’s commitment of operational transparency.

A subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and partially owned by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Barakah One Company is the company in charge of representing the financial and commercial interests of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant project.

ENEC is committed to achieving the highest standards of safety and quality and this commitment is guided by an established approach to a Healthy Culture of Safety.

The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme benefits from the expertise and operational experience of the global nuclear energy industry. It has adopted best practices from operators around the world and from industry organisations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO).

All work on the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme is overseen by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the country’s independent regulatory authority.

At ENEC, a culture of safety means a commitment at all levels of the organisation to make the safety of the public, employees and the environment the priority in all of its work.

Safety is a defining element of its corporate values and culture. Every employee is responsible for safety, and is empowered to act accordingly.

It works closely with its contractors, regulators and the international nuclear community to develop and maintain a world-class nuclear safety culture, policies and procedures. Regular safety and quality audits are a core part of the programme, ensuring continual improvement in all areas of management and operation.

This culture of safety relies on its employees at every level to immediately raise safety concerns and identify areas for improvement. It holds regular safety training programmes and conduct evaluations to maintain a rigour that promotes continuous improvement and a safety-conscious work environment.