Computer science - A bridge between nuclear knowledge and practice

The paper analyzes the horizon of the new information technologies, in a way that regards both parties involved in the education process: trainers and trainees. The case study refers to the Nuclear Power Plant Department within Power Engineering Faculty at University 'POLITEHNICA' of Bucharest in Romania. Attracting qualified people to nuclear field is essential for sustainable development - especially for developing countries, such as Romania. One way to accomplish this goal is to utilize the interest of the students in interconnected domains like computer based tools The study took into account the feedback information from the students, as well as the international framework (recommendation from IAEA) in order to postulate what can be changed or improved in order to create a better learning environment. The work revealed the fact that students have a relatively poor education related to computer programming, although there are some applications currently being studied, such as ACSL (Advanced Continuous Simulation Language). There is a need for better utilization of other general technical use programs such as Mathcad, Matlab, and specialized programs such as CANDU-9 Compact Reactor Simulator, Advanced Reactor Simulator, MMS (Modular Modelling System), MicroShield, FISPACT, designed to simulate, in an attractive and 'user friendly' mode, the comportment of a nuclear power plant and for radiological assessment. This would increase the degree of understanding of the extremely complex processes that take place in such an installation. A more practical approach is imperative in order to capture the interest of the students. Because this is not always possible, the importance of computer simulated processes is emphasized. (author)