The European Nuclear Energy Leadership Academy (ENELA), which aims at educating tomorrow’s European nuclear leaders, was launched on 28 January. It is a joint-initiative of six European companies (Areva, Axpo AG, EnBW, E.ON, URENCO and Vattenfall) which signed an agreement that covers the strategic, financial and legal aspects of the academy. The training centre will be located near Munich (Germany) and Jean-Claude Gauthier has been nominated as its first Director.

The creation of the academy was decided by industry players during the discussions of the European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF), the platform set up by the Commission in 2007 that brings together stakeholders to discuss on nuclear issues. It is also in line with the conclusions of the Council in December 2008 on the need for skills in the nuclear sector. The Council conclusions call for more efforts from public and private players to help close the skill gap.

ENELA’s action will be threefold. The academy will offer two training programmes. The first one destined to young graduates from different backgrounds (engineering, natural sciences, law, economics, social sciences…) with no professional experience will allow them to acquire skills in nuclear management. The second programme will train experienced professionals and senior managers to improve their managerial skills. Finally ENELA will also serve as a think-tank and organise meetings to bring together representative from the nuclear industry, the political world, the media and civil society.

ENELA is one of many initiatives in Europe that aim at bridging the education gap in the nuclear sector and train young nuclear professional.

For further information, you can read the press release of the European Commission.

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