OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2007. The key topic of the meeting was personnel for the nuclear industry of Russia, reported the press-centre of Minatom.

The agreement for the establishment of Russian Nuclear Innovative Consortium was signed in Feb 2006 by over 30 leading national educational and research institutions and nuclear centers. The signatories pledged to train highly-qualified personnel and to create an effective innovative system by integrating their research, education and innovative potentials. The board of the consortium consists of the heads of all signatory-organizations.

Minister of Education and Science of Russia A.Fursenko and head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy (Rosatom) S.Kiriyenko took part in the meeting.

The rector of Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPI)M.Strikhanov made a report on nuclear education under current nuclear and education reforms. “In order to organize an effective system of personnel training in the nuclear industry, we should consolidate the capacities of our education, science and industry,” Strikhanov said.

The reactor of Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys D.Livanov made a report on the new formation of cooperation between the system of higher education and the industry, while the director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Non-Organic Materials A.Putilov – on new materials for new power industry and engineering and research personnel for the development of nano-technologies. One of the reporters said: “Today, we must work out a kind of road map for our education system – we must decide whom exactly the industry needs, in what quantity and when.”

Fursenko said: “The Government is ready to foster the development of MEPI as part of the nuclear industry. We are ready to make all necessary administrative decisions and to allocate all necessary resources if you suggest a specific well-grounded development program.”

“Our Ministry is already implementing the Government’s decision to set up two federal universities and to carry out a program of their support. Over $2bln has already been budgeted for this purpose. Today, we have a real chance to establish a strong research and education center – federal nuclear university – a structure that can back up the ambitious development plans of our nuclear industry.”

Kiriyenko told the audience about the plans and the reforms of the nuclear industry. “Now that all the tasks have been formulated, our key problem is personnel – their quantity, quality and availability. That’s why the work of the Russian Nuclear Innovative Consortium is very important for us. I wholeheartedly support the idea of establishing a federal nuclear university. It will certainly help us to solve our problems and to achieve our goals. And we are going to help you in the matter.”

In conclusion, Kiriyenko congratulated MEPI on its 65th anniversary and presented a number of MEPI professors with I.A. Kurchatov and Y.P.Spasky orders.