Human development in Japan and abroad using the prototype FBR 'Monju' towards the next-generation age

Japan is engaged in research and development for an innovative FBR, targeting commercial operation to start around 2025 via the FaCT (Fast Reactor Cycle Technology Development) project. To prepare for the new FBR age, INITC has been working on human resource development using Monju towards the next-generation age not only for Japan, including companies and students, but also for the world aiming at becoming a base of the international educational training. Effective mastering technology requires educational training harmonized through lectures and exercises, consequently, providing such education needs preparing substantial hardware and developing software. As for the preparation of hardware, the Fast Reactor Training Facility, which consists of two training facilities for systematically teaching the technologies for sodium handling and maintenance related to FBR technology, was built in May 2000, based on the lessons learned from the December 1995 sodium leak accident. As regard in to operator training, the hardware of MARS (Monju Advanced Reactor Simulator) was reconstructed corresponding to the sodium leak safety measures, and simulator function was also improved in order to advance operator training. The following advances concerning the software were also carried out based on the teachings obtained from the leak accident as well as hardware: a) Strengthening operator training framework by establishing educational training guidance, improving operation manuals and introducing an operator training evaluation system (SAT: Systematic Approach Training); b) improving training curriculums related to plant system engineering and sodium handling technologies, which cover teaching from the basis to the expert levels. A total of 26 training courses were established, such as 8 simulator courses, 5 FBR plant system engineering courses, 6 sodium handling courses and 7 maintenance courses. And each course has been continuing even while Monju operation has been stopped for over a decade. Moreover, INITC is holding two types of international training courses every year, i.e., the 'International Safety Training Course' to help spreading nuclear safety technology in Asian countries and the 'International Sodium Technology Training Course' for trainees from China and U.S.A. Besides these activities, student educational trainings are also held periodically to enhance the understanding of the nuclear technology and increasing the interest and care for nuclear field: a) a university student educational seminar that is one of the collaborative activities with CEA, France; b) the Monju Education that is a part of the environment and energy education for primary and secondary students in the local community. The variety of the above mentioned educational trainings will contribute to the development of the human resource in Japan and abroad, towards the next-generation age