Abstract
In 2010, the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Khalifa University of Science and Technology (NUCE) established the MSc degree in Nuclear Engineering. This program was established to support the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerging civil nuclear energy program and produce graduate engineers capable of supporting the safe construction, operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning of the UAE nuclear reactors. In order to enhance and consolidate classroom teaching, an overseas “Field Trip” module was integrated into the MSc curriculum in order to provide practical exercises, demonstrations and site visits. With respect to the consolidation of reactor physics teaching in particular, the field trips over the past 9 years have utilized mainly the AGN Zero Power reactor at Kyung Hee University (2012-2015) and the Breazeale TRIGA reactor at Penn State University (2017-2018). In both cases students gained “hands-on” supervised experience in classical reactor experiments, shielding measurements, health physics and radiological protection control, and radioanalytical measurement methods, such as neutron activation analysis. At Penn State University, the experiments were extended to surveillance measurements, taking advantage of the facilities specialized modules in nuclear security. This paper provides details of the arrangements made for the field trips and the learning outcomes these practical arrangements helped to satisfy meeting the overall degree outcomes. The case study will also illustrate where a nuclear energy newcomer State can take advantage of international collaborations without the need to invest in a national research reactor.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONIn the past 9 years there have been several academic field trip programs introduced to support the Khalifa University MSc degree in nuclear engineering (NUCE), especially with respect to experimental reactor physics, radiation metrology and radiological protection as well as the management of safety, security and safeguards
In the past 9 years there have been several academic field trip programs introduced to support the Khalifa University MSc degree in nuclear engineering (NUCE), especially with respect to experimental reactor physics, radiation metrology and radiological protection as well as the management of safety, security and safeguards. This strategy involves giving students, and faculty practical experience in areas ranging from reactor physics experiments, radio-isotopic analysis, shielding, and radiation protection [1]
With respect to the field trip, the practical experience gained by the students enhances their understanding of the undergraduate level bridging courses (NUCE 301, 302, 303 and 401), and MSc Core courses (NUCE 601, 602, 603 and 606) as well as providing them with opportunities to apply their knowledge in the elective courses (NUCE 611614, and NUCE 621-625) and their thesis (NUCE 699)
Summary
In the past 9 years there have been several academic field trip programs introduced to support the Khalifa University MSc degree in nuclear engineering (NUCE), especially with respect to experimental reactor physics, radiation metrology and radiological protection as well as the management of safety, security and safeguards This strategy involves giving students, and faculty practical experience in areas ranging from reactor physics experiments, radio-isotopic analysis, shielding, and radiation protection [1]. The MSc in NUCE gives candidates the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad field of nuclear engineering and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation in order to conduct original research within their thesis projects Candidates for this degree are taught and supervised by experienced faculty and are expected to demonstrate initiative in their approach and innovation in their work. With respect to the field trip, the practical experience gained by the students enhances their understanding of the undergraduate level bridging courses (NUCE 301, 302, 303 and 401), and MSc Core courses (NUCE 601, 602, 603 and 606) as well as providing them with opportunities to apply their knowledge in the elective courses (NUCE 611614, and NUCE 621-625) and their thesis (NUCE 699)
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