Nuclear Island launched: New Build experience for science and engineering students
15 Jun 2011
Today, June 15, sees the pilot week and launch of the Nuclear Island, a unique experience in which students can develop and apply their skills to a scaled down New Build construction project.
A
partnership of Imperial College London, Constructionarium, Cogent Sector Skills
Council, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and
Construction Skills, received funding from the National HE STEM Programme and
the Royal Academy of Engineering to develop the Nuclear Island
programme.
The pilot
week will see 25 engineering students from Imperial College London construct a
scaled down nuclear core reactor, in a simulated highly secure environment. The
programme will be run from the established Constructionarium facility at Bircham
Newton in Norfolk and builds on good working practice in the civil engineering
sector where scaled down models of large builds are already performed by
students.
The one week
experience will be tested to maximum effect on the final day of construction,
as the programme managers have devised a yet to be unveiled safety breach. This
will test the students’ ability to respond to a potential disaster scenario.
The Nuclear Island
will be a nationally available New Build undergraduate module for students in
science and engineering, engaging a wide range of partners across the UK. It is
underpinned by a collaboration of a university, a contractor and a consultant
delivering a new learning experience. For the first time, nuclear safety
culture will be an essential part of construction engineering courses,
embedding critical safety behaviours from day one.
Cogent CEO Joanna Woolf said: “the
prospect of replacing the current fleet of nuclear power stations represents a
multibillion pound private sector investment, but one which is dependent on a
highly skilled workforce. Cogent’s research shows that the industry
will require a thousand new recruits every year to ensure that power generation
meets projected demand to 2025 and beyond.
“This new initiative aims to become an integral part of a number of UK
undergraduate courses, attracting and exposing students from civil and nuclear
engineering to the New Build sector. This learning experience will also be
leveled to meet the needs of apprentices, post-graduate students and employee
continuing professional development. It will support the delivery of essential
nuclear skills for the proposed New Build programme.”
Jean-Jacques Gautrot Chairman
& CEO, AREVA UK said: “AREVA UK Ltd is supporting
Cogent and Imperial College in their bid to the Royal Academy
of Engineering to build a nuclear island model. It is important that
engineering skills are nurtured and developed at all levels in order to feed
the needs of the industry.”
Jean Llewellyn, CEO of the National Skills Academy
for Nuclear said: “This is an exciting time of growth and
development for the UK
nuclear Industry and it offers a range of exciting careers and development
opportunities. It is really important that UK students aspiring to work in the
sector are given the real life education, training and development
opportunities required to support them access worthwhile careers and succeed in
the sector.
“Safety is of paramount importance
in every aspect of the nuclear industry from construction to operations and
decommissioning, this innovative project gives students a real opportunity to
fully understand the skills and knowledge to work safely in the nuclear
industry.”
Project Partners
Cogent
Constructionarium Ltd
Construction Skills
ECITB
Imperial College London
National
Skills Academy
Nuclear
Royal Academy
of Engineering
ThinkUp
Higher Education
partners
Bridgwater College, Somerset
Glyndŵr
University
University
of Birmingham
University
of Leeds
University of Manchester, Dalton
Nuclear Institute
