Opening 23rd academic year
September traditionally signals the beginning of a new academic year, and for the Belgian Nuclear higher Education Network (BNEN), this is no exception. On Tuesday 17 September 2024, 13 new students started their master-after-master course in nuclear engineering. The course, now in its 23rd edition, was officially inaugurated on Thursday 19 September 2024.
Formal inauguration
The programme featured two captivating lectures on contemporary issues in the nuclear sector.
René Lauwers from Engie kicked things off with a presentation on the long-term operation of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power plants. His talk provided attendees with valuable insights into the challenges of extending the operational lifespan of nuclear power plants. Lauwers emphasised the growing need for nuclear engineers in the future. He and his core team are also former students of the master-after-master course.
This was followed by a session on 'boosting SMR research', introduced by Peter Baeten. During the session, two new professors took the floor: Guillaume Derval from ULiège and Ricardo Rossa, who is affiliated with both SCK CEN and Ghent University (UGent). Both professors presented their project proposals aimed at supporting research on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
In 2022, SCK CEN was tasked with exploring innovative Small Modular Reactors. SCK CEN was granted a research budget from the federal government for this purpose. A portion of that budget is allocated to strengthening academic initiatives. Two out of the four professors have already been chosen.
In conclusion, Peter Baeten addressed the audience as the new chairman of BNEN. "We have already awarded over 120 diplomas, and there are certainly many more to come," he enthused. "The nuclear industry requires suitably qualified individuals. BNEN provides students with a unique programme to train as nuclear engineers and specialise in a specific area of nuclear science."
Lisa Wlodarski, one of the new students, says: "Having already studied biomedical engineering, I now wish to pursue nuclear technology. My goal is to contribute to medical solutions and safety, as well as to inspire more women to pursue careers in the nuclear sector."