UAE's Federal Authority For Nuclear Regulation Joins IAEA Conference In Austria

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) of the UAE is attending the International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management and Human Resources Development, which is being held from July 1 to 5 at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

The conference, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), aims to discuss global developments in nuclear knowledge management and human resources.

It highlights current and future challenges and opportunities, provides practical solutions for participants to use at various levels, and focuses on developing and maintaining the workforce required for safe and sustainable nuclear power programs.

Awadh AlMur, FANR's Director of Human Resources, said the UAE highlighted the importance of building the capacity of its nationals from day one of building its peaceful nuclear energy program.

"It has developed and implemented various capacity-building programs to ensure Emiratis are equipped with the needed talents and competencies necessary for the safe operation of its nuclear power plant," AlMur said, according to WAM.

"We are proud to say that the UAE has almost 20,000 workers in the nuclear and radiation sectors, which reflects the massive efforts undertaken by the country over the past years," he added.

The UAE Nuclear Energy Program is now a role model for other countries in building and operating nuclear power plants while following IAEA and international safety standards.

During the five-day conference, various themes will be discussed, including nuclear energy policies and their impact on knowledge management and human resources, engaging the youth through global collaboration, workforce development, and safety culture amongst other topics.

FANR will showcase two technical presentations, highlighting its strong regulatory practices in the nuclear sector. The first presentation focuses on the Irshaad Youth Program, a mentorship initiative that pairs young employees with senior management mentors to guide their career development.

The second one, the Iqrab W Ta'alam Session Presentation, highlights an E-Learning Onboarding Program designed to educate new FANR employees about the organization's core activities and operations.

Furthermore, FANR will present two posters outlining its efforts to enhance capacity. One poster discusses the Individual Development Plan, which identifies staff competency needs and training requirements.

The second poster showcases the outcomes of the UAE Students Hackathon, titled "Nuclear Science for Environmental Sustainability and Combating Climate Change," involving 30 students from six UAE universities exploring the role of nuclear and radiation science in addressing environmental sustainability and climate change challenges.