Replacing nuclear staff: The proactive work at IPEN/CNEN-SP

In Brazil, young people do not learn nuclear science, nuclear engineering and related fields at College or Universities, because Brazilian Universities offer such specialized courses only as extension classes to normal curriculum. Another important aspect to be considered is that there are eight Brazilian Universities or Research Institute that offers MSc and PhD degree offered on only four State/Region of Brazil, e.g.: in the State of Sao Paulo/SP, Region Southeast of Brazil, there is only one programme, at Energy and Nuclear Research Institute - IPEN, in association with the University of Sao Paulo - USP; in the State of Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Region Southeast of Brazil, there are four programmes: the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, the Army Engineering Institute - IME, the Institute of Nuclear Engineering - IEN, the Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry - IRD; in the State of Minas Gerais, Region Southeast of Brazil, there are the Center of Nuclear Technology Development - CDTN and the Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG; in the State of Pernambuco, Region Northeast of Brazil, there is Federal University of Pernambuco - UFPE. Those four institutes: IPEN, IEN, IRD and CDTN are institutes belonging to the National Nuclear Energy Commission - CNEN. The situation of those nuclear programmes (mentioned above), their level of post graduation and the grade attributed by Capes - the Higher Education Coordinating Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, done three-annually on all Brazilian Courses, undergraduate and postgraduate is presented. This evaluation varies on a scale from 1 to 5, universities are allowed to conduct their programme only with grade up to 3, if not the course is disregarded. The acquirement of evaluation up to 5, i.e. 6 and 7 is given only to programme that has high academic level recognized internationally for expertise. IPEN it is a traditional research and educational institution, recognized internationally for the high level of education provided. To give an idea of the importance and size of the Post Graduation Programme at IPEN, in 2003, the staff, students, disciplines and other numbers were officially registered as following: 498 students for the MSc and PhD degrees; 166 thesis advisor's; 44 disciplines offered; 65 thesis and dissertation concluded; 147 scholarship given by the Brazilian Federal and State Governments for undergraduate and post graduate students; 400 students took entrance selection exams (about 50% were approved); Approximately 500 internship were provided; and Approximately 150 thesis advisors were invited to participate in the examining boards. The Post Graduation Programme of IPEN in association with the University of Sao Paulo - USP (the largest institution of higher education and research in Brazil, and the third in size in Latin America) is organized in three areas of concentration: TNA- Nuclear Technology and its Applications; TNM- Nuclear Technology on Materials; TNR - Nuclear Technology for Reactors. The replacement of nuclear personnel is shrinking is a fact and the problem requires immediate attention of the entire nuclear community (academia, government and industry). Aware to find ways to solve this problem, IPEN started to work more proactively by dealing closely with universities, industries, government and other relevant organizations. As result of this work, on 2001, IPEN in accordance with USP, started to offer graduation optional disciplines to all students at USP interested on nuclear field. This initiative was very successful. On 2003, IPEN started the most important project in association with Physics Institute of USP, this project so called: Programme of Graduation Course on Nuclear Science is willing to graduate Human Resources for the Nuclear Sector. Our proposal with this Programme is that the IAEA and also Brazilian Government Agency could allocate money for Brazilian fellowship in order to capture human resources for nuclear sector. With this action we believe that would produce a sizeable impact in the international nuclear scientific community