Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology

Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (ANENT) is a highly effective web-based educational system to complement conventional knowledge transfer methods by networking teachers, students, and their institutions that are engaged or interested in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and other applications. ANENT is primarily aimed at Asia and the Pacific region, where huge economic growth is now under way and expected to continue, accompanied by rapidly increasing demand for energy. The demand cannot, and should not, be met only by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited and increasingly expensive, and are thought to be the largest cause of global warming. Nuclear energy is expected to play an important role to close the widening gap between energy supply and demand. While some countries in Asia have been operating nuclear power plants (NPP) for decades, there are some potential newcomer countries to nuclear power programmes. Other countries are to maintain and expand the use of radiation and radioisotopes. Demand in human resources is increasing in the field of energy and nuclear technology in the region. At the same time, however, many countries are facing urgent issues of nuclear knowledge management such as 'brain drain', shortage of educational opportunities, resources and facilities. Thus, the Asian region needs to develop a wide spectrum of nuclear education and training programmes for capacity and infrastructure building. The basic concept of ANENT was discussed and agreed upon at a consultancy meeting held in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea(2003), in cooperation with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). On the basis of the basic agreement, ANENT was established at the first coordination committee meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2004), with the cooperation of the Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (Malaysian Nuclear Agency). The participants agreed upon the initial Terms of Reference and an action plan for launching ANENT. Implementation of five group activities was also agreed upon. ANENT is a new regional partnership for knowledge management and capacity building in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. It aims at aiding networking of nuclear research institutes, universities, and other educational facilities as well as developing a web-based education and training system to complement existing mechanisms. This regional partnership is intended to disseminate knowledge and information on nuclear technology in a reliable and economic manner to a broader audience