CHERNE Workshop 2006

Background.

In the conclusions of the first edition of the workshop it was proposed to organise an informal network in order to continue collaboration between participants in that meeting. The group was named CHERNE, standing for Cooperation for Higher Education on Radiological and Nuclear Engineering.

A declaration was elaborated and signed by 7 institutions that confirmed their adhesion to the network. Among the objectives of this network it was established the organisation of an annual meeting. And this is the origin of the second edition of the workshop.

Other objectives to be underlined were the collaboration on education, training and research between the partners, and the conclusion of bilateral ERASMUS agreements, in particular for staff exchanges.

Therefore, in this edition it is expected to consolidate and broaden, if any, the network. It is not strange therefore, to have similar objectives as in the first edition.

Objectives.

Occupational, public and environmental aspects of radiation protection are very important in all applications of ionising radiations, both nuclear and non-nuclear, including industrial, medical and research areas. As well the permanent attention to safety is one of the keys of the future development of radiological and nuclear applications. The number of experts in radiation protection and nuclear related topics is continuously decreasing. This is related with the low number of students that follow regular courses on these matters in European Universities and similar Higher Education Institutions. However, it is crucial for the future development of applications of ionising radiations and nuclear techniques to maintain a high level of competences in those fields to ensure the protection of workers, public and environment. It is essential a sustainable infrastructure in Education and Training to cope the decline in expertise and to ensure the continuation of the high level of radiation protection in the future.

According to Bologna declaration it is necessary to encourage universities to work closely together in order to enhance quality and innovation in their program designs and to facilitate full academic recognition of periods of study undertaken abroad.

Both features can be included in a project that establishes new degree courses at advanced level (Master-type), which seek to respond to European shortages of highly qualified human resources by pooling transnational expertise in the fields of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Engineering.

In this framework, the main objectives of the second edition of the workshop are the following:

To maintain and enhance contacts established in the first edition.
To establish new contacts.
An analysis of the activities developed during the last year as well as the goals attained
New proposals for the next year concerning teaching (master level) as well as research. In particular, teaching activities shared by several partners of the network.

Although the scope of the network is European it can be interesting to count on the collaboration of professors of prestige from US Universities as well as from other non European institutions.