GENTLE promotes nuclear education, training and research

The GENTLE (Graduate and Executive Nuclear Training and Lifelong Education) Project is a new initiative in support of nuclear training and education organised within the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission. It brings together leading European universities in the field of nuclear training and education and national and international research institutions with the aim of creating a sustainable lifelong E&T (education and training) programme in the field of nuclear fission technology that meets the needs of European stakeholders (industry, research organisations, etc).

The GENTLE Project's programme is based on three E&T tools. Firstly, student research projects will enable students from the participating universities to get hands-on experience in some of Europe's unique and specialised laboratories and to participate in cutting-edge research. Secondly, intersemester courses will be organised for graduate and post-graduate students studying specific topics that are generally not part of the academic programme, such as nuclear safeguards and forensics, nuclear fuel, or nuclear decommissioning. Thirdly, an Executive Master's Course for young professionals, particularly those who have no nuclear education background, will be initiated to enhance their knowledge of nuclear reactors and fuel cycles.

The GENTLE Project had its kick-off meeting at the Technical University of Delft, in the Netherlands, in March of this year, during which a dialogue with the stakeholders took place. This gave rise to a set of recommendations that are currently under review. The GENTLE project will run from 2013 to 2017.