Symposium on International Safeguards: Linking Strategy, Implementation and People - IAEA CN-220

Synergies between Science and Policy and the Use of New Teaching Tools in the Academic and Professional Development Programs

21 Oct 2014, 14:50

20m

Room M2 (M Building)

oral Training and Education in Nuclear Non-proliferation and Safeguards

Speaker

Elena Sokova (VCDNP (invited non-governmental organization))

Description

The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies has been providing academic coursework and professional development training in nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear safeguards and security issues to graduate students and professionals for over two decades. Since 2011, the CNS also managers the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) in Vienna, Austria, an international non-governmental organization established at the initiative of the Austria Foreign Ministry. The VCDNP offers professional development courses on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament to diplomats and other practitioners, primarily from the developing countries, as well as conducts a variety of awareness and outreach programs. International safeguards and nonproliferation verification feature prominently in the CNS and VCDNP educational and training programs. The Centers offer cutting edge courses and programs that prepare specialists with relevant competences and skills for a range of the safeguards-related jobs, particularly in the area of open source information analysis. These programs utilize both traditional and new tools and methods, offer curricula that combine science and policy, encourage regular interaction with the IAEA experts, other practitioners, as well as academic and professional networks. The proposed paper will offer an overview of best practices and lessons learned from key programs and tools used by CNS and VCDNP in education and training, with particular attention paid to the use of negotiation simulations, on-line courses and modules, and virtual reality simulations. The paper will examine the role of internships, on-the-job training, academic and professional exchanges and discuss the role of partnerships among different stakeholders, including in training specialists from developing and newcomer countries.