Nuclear Job Taxonomy-Final Report. A competence-oriented classification of jobs in nuclear power plants

The various European initiatives for the modernisation of the education and training (E&T) can become effective tools to face the potential shortage of human resources in the nuclear energy sector. The implementation of these initiatives facilitates the mobility of learners and professionals and the recognition of informal learning. They also support flexible customised lifelong learning and qualifications focused in an integral competence concept. Incorporating these components into the nuclear E&T contribute to ensure the availability of nuclear professionals in sufficient numbers and holding the required competences. The Nuclear Job Taxonomy (NJT) is a classification of jobs in nuclear power plants. It sets the focus in the requirements for each position defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence (attitudes). It aims to facilitate the design of modular, work-oriented and customised qualifications in the nuclear energy sector.JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet

The Preparation of an ECVET - oriented Nuclear Job Taxonomy : Concept and Progress Report

This document intends to summarise the developments in the preparation of a Nuclear Job Taxonomy, undertaken by the Institute for Energy and Transport of the Joint Research Centre, European Commission, as part of the institutional action CAPTURE. It provides an overall background on the European Credit System for Vocational Education and training (ECVET) followed by the motivations of the project, the conceptual and methodological approach, the progress achieved and the expectations for the near future.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

Retaining critical competences in nuclear energy sector: national initiatives and best practices, instruments and tools

The main objective of this study is to give an overview of new initiatives and best practices developed during the last few years on the national level. As the development of nuclear E&T is primarily defined by the policies and national regulations for the nuclear sector, and only secondarily - through the general policies that apply to the high education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) systems, main attention is given to the educational activities specific for the nuclear field. This report firstly focuses on the organisation of nuclear E&T in selected countries, investigating different types of institutions, programmes, qualifications, funding mechanisms and partnerships among academia, industry, labour market and social partners. Then the attention is given to the current status and further development of tools and instruments, that support the assessment, achievement and demonstration of personal and corporate competences in the nuclear sector. Finally there is a review of current trends in nuclear E&T and recommendations to maintain and develop the skills, competences and knowledge in nuclear and radiation safety in the EU. The data on which this study is based is taken from desk research and interviews with several experts.JRC.F.4-Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Reactor Safet

Constraint-Based Master Curve Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel

This report presents the outcome of four fracture test series, addressing the ductile-to-brittle toughness behaviour of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel steel. Each test series corresponds to a specific test specimen geometry, tensile or three-point-bend, with a given degree of crack-tip constraint. A brief overview is given of available constraint-based fracture mechanics methodologies in the ductile-to-brittle transition range, including both engineering and local approach procedures. The obtained experimental data are analysed by means of the Master Curve standard ASTM E1921. Variability of the resulting reference temperature, T0, is successfully confirmed by a selection of constraint-based methodologies.JRC.DG.F.4-Safety of future nuclear reactor

Development of the Mandrel Test for Controlled Displacement of Zircaloy Tubes : Summary of Initial Work 2007

This report describes some initial work at IE to develop a displacement controlled test for testing the material properties of spent fuel cladding tubes. The objective is to have a test which allows stavle failure under increasing and for which the level of axisymmtery can be controlled. The cone-Mandrel test consists of a set of arc-shaped segments placed inside a section of a Zircaloy tube and pushed outwards by the vertical displacement of a conical shaft. The cone-mandrel is first developed for un-irradiated conditions but the test should also be applicable for irradiated components in hot cells at ITU. The report describes the practical implementation of the cone-mandrel with 8 segments and applied to three specimens. The tests show that the cone-mandrel can be used to attain controlled displacements until failure. The load is not accurately monitored for very low loads due to misalignment between cone, segments and tube. It is, however, straight-forward to compensate for this effect from the registered displacement/strain curve. The tested specimens were subsequently analysed by fractographic studies. The main fracture was by shearing along lines that make 45¿ angle with the axial and circumferential directions. The tests were simulated by non-linear finite element (FE) calculations. The finite element calculations simulated the experimental observations quite well. The FE calculations also allowed us to better understand the failure by necking and the deviation of axi-symmetric loading due to stress concentrations at the end of the segments. Furthermore the cone is also subjected to plastic deformation. The plastic deformation of the cone and the deviation from axi-symmetric load conditions can be reduced by increasing the number of segments. To this end mandrels with 6, 8 and 10 segments were analysed. The conclusion is that one should use at least 8 segments and that one should use a harder material for the cone.JRC.F.4-Safety of future nuclear reactor

Results of surveys of the Supply of and Demand for Nuclear Experts within the EU-28 Civil Nuclear Energy Sector

Today, more than 25% of electricity power in the European Union is produced by the nuclear energy sector. This corresponds to more than 50% of EU's low carbon electricity. The EU's Energy Strategy Plan foresees that nuclear energy will remain an important factor of the EU's energy mix until 2050 – and even beyond. The EU promotes the highest safety standards for all types of civilian nuclear activity, including the Nuclear Energy Sector. Having sufficient skilled and trained Human Respources (HR) is an important component for ensuring safe operation nuclear power plants. The objective of EHRO-N is to develop strategic plans addressing potential human resource and skills gaps in the EU nuclear sector. Initial studies have already triggered several new education and training initiatives in the Member States and at EU level. The report presents the results from two stakeholder surveys performed in 2018; one with the higher education institutions (HR supply side) and one from nuclear stakeholders (HR demand side). When possible the report makes comparisons with data from the previous EHRO-N surveys in 2010 and 2014. Finally, the report proposes a way forward for a more robust methodology to assess the nuclear workforce in the sectorJRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet

THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ECVET IN THE NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR

The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) Recommendation by the European Parliament and the Council, 2009, invites Member States to start progressive ECVET implementation from 2012 onwards, with an evaluation and possible revision foreseen in 2014. As part of its support to the introduction of ECVET in the nuclear energy sector, the Institute for Energy and Transport (IET) of The Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission (EC), through the ECVET Team of the European Human Resources Observatory for the Nuclear energy sector (EHRO-N), created in the last four years (2009-2013) the required building blocks to facilitate the design of nuclear qualifications. This article describes the outcomes of these activities, highlighting the first steps to establish a systematic approach for the design of nuclear qualifications.JRC.F.4-Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Reactor Safet

The ECVET-oriented "Nuclear Job Taxonomy": a European cooperative project

The European Human Resources Observatory – Nuclear (EHRO-N), by means of its operating agent, the Institute for Energy and Transport (IET) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission (EC), initiated in 2011 the preparation of a so called Nuclear Job Taxonomy. This answered to the request of DG RTD and DG EAC to promote the implementation of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) in the nuclear sector. The article describes the highlights of this initiative.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

The ECVET Toolkit Customization for the Nuclear Energy Sector

As part of its support to the introduction of ECVET in the nuclear energy sector, the Institute for Energy and Transport (IET) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission (EC), through the ECVET Team of the European Human Resources Observatory for the Nuclear energy sector (EHRO-N), developed in the last six years (2009-2014) a sectorial approach and a road map for ECVET implementation in the nuclear energy sector. In order to observe the road map for the ECVET implementation, the toolkit customization for nuclear energy sector is required. This article describes the outcomes of the toolkit customization, based on ECVET approach, for nuclear qualifications design. The process of the toolkit customization took into account the fact that nuclear qualifications are mostly of higher levels (five and above) of the European Qualifications Framework.JRC.F.4-Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Reactor Safet

Status report on the European credit system for vocational education and training (ECVET) and its implementation in the nuclear sector

The report investigates the status of implementation of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) recommendation in Europe including the nuclear sector. It provides a summary of the findings from the point of view of EU Member States and EU nuclear fission training projects. Those findings may apply to other industrial sectors. Its target audience are nuclear training providers and Directorate Generals of the European Commission (EC): Joint Research Centre (JRC), Education Youth and Culture (EAC), Energy (ENER), Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (Market), Employment and Social Affairs and Inclusion (EMP).JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet