Table of Contents

1Preparatory Bureau meetings during 2012

2Summary of 4th SC Meeting

2.1Opening and Introductory presentations

2.2Presentations by IAEA staff and SC ‘Members

2.3Presentation and discussion of the SC’s Action plan and 2013-2022 strategy for education and training in the area of nuclear installation safety

2.3.1Safety Report

2.3.2Basic Professional Training Course (BPTC), Regulatory Control Course and Other Training Materials

2.3.3Seminar on SARCoN guidelines

3Conclusions, further Actions and date for the 5th SC meeting

Appendix I. Agenda

Appendix II. List of Participants

Appendix III Introductory presentations

Appendix IV. Action Plan

Background

Following the conclusions of two IAEA Technical Meetings related to developing and ensuring regulatory competence in Member States with Nuclear Power Plants, the establishment of a Steering Committee (SC) to exchange information and advise the IAEA on how best to support the Member States’ systems for ensuring regulatory competence was strongly recommended. Terms of Reference for the Steering Committee were prepared and approved. The Steering Committee was established formally in 2009, and since then it has been implementing its strategic work plan, which is revised annually.

Amongst the achievements of the Steering Committee on Competence of Human Resources of Regulatory Bodies, the following work can be noted:

  • Annual revision and updating of the Guidelines on Systematic Assessment of Competence Needs (SARCoN), and its associated questionnaires and software based self-assessment tool
  • Research on best systems to ensure and manage regulatory competence. A safety report collecting current knowledge and good practices on management systems for regulatory competence is under preparation
  • Sharing training courses and documentation amongst its members and creating a compilation of websites and internet resources useful for training of regulatory bodies available from the MemberStates and the IAEA
  • Promoting and giving advice on the IAEA safety standards related to developing, ensuring and managing regulatory competence.

In 2010, a limited number of Member States considering embarking on a Nuclear Power Programme joined the Steering Committee. The strategic action plan of the Steering Committee was modified to include an additional objective in order to identify and support as possible and as appropriate the competence’s needs of regulators wishing to embark on a Nuclear Power Programme. Given the interest in sharing information amongst regulators in the process of embarking on a Nuclear Power Programme, it was agreed to expand the ToR of the SC in order to include members from the newcomer regulators. In 2011 the SC was then enlarged.

1Preparatory Bureau meetings during 2012

The SC meets in plenary once a year. A limited group of SC Members known as Bureau meet twice during the year together with the IAEA secretariat in order to revise the implementation of the strategic action plan and to follow up on actions for the upcoming plenary meeting. Current Members of the Bureau are the UK, Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Spain and the IAEA secretariat.

In preparation of this 4th SC, two Bureau Meetings had been held in 2012 on 27-28 March in Brussels, hosted by BelV and on 29-30 August in Vienna. The main aims of the two Bureau meetings were:

  • to discuss the development of the safety report on managing regulatory competence,
  • to prepare the SARCoN seminar planned in connection with the next SC meeting,
  • to discuss progress on the implementation of the strategic action plan of the SC,
  • to prepare an Agenda for the SC meeting of December 2012 in Vienna

Documents related to the Bureau meetings as well as reports and other related information of the SC can be found at:

2Summary of 4th SC Meeting

The agenda for the Steering Committee and seminar on the SARCoN tool, as well as the list of participants are given in Appendix I and II. Participants attended the SC meeting and the SARCoN seminar during the week 4-7 December 2012. The meeting was chaired by Mr Mark Gabbott of the ONR (UK). The number of countries that participated in the meeting: 20 countries in 2012 and 33 countries in 2011. Following the Steering Committee plenary meeting, a one day seminar on the updated software tool for SARCoN was organised by the IAEA secretariat.

The 4th SC meeting consisted of three parts:

1)Opening and introductory presentations from the director of the division of nuclear installations, from the leader of the regulatory activities section and the leader of the action on capacity building within the Nuclear Safety Action Plan.

2)Presentations of the national status and issues from each of the Member States

3)Presentations of the various IAEA activities in the area of education and training, human resources developments and networking addressing thematic areas such as security, radiation safety, emergency preparedness and response, e-learning tools and training packages for developing nuclear and safety infrastructure

4)Revision the action plan of the SC for 2013 and the developed IAEA strategy for Education and Training in the area of nuclear installation safety

2.1Opening and Introductory presentations[1]

The meeting was opened by the director of the IAEA Nuclear Installations Division (NSNI), J. Lyons. Mr Lyons’s remarks summed up the 2012 highlights of the IAEA work within the division of nuclear installations safety and emphasized the role the SC in advising how the IAEA can best support the regulatory competence building systems through international cooperation. He also underlined the value of sharing information on resources and needs of the Member States and he welcomed the achievements of the SC, in particular the safety report on managing regulatory competence and SARCON.

A presentation from the head of the regulatory activities section, Ms A. Nicic followed the opening. Ms Nicic gave an overview of the IAEA regulatory activities, results and status of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service, the extraordinary meeting of the Nuclear Safety Convention held during 2012 and efforts in support of the countries embarking on a nuclear power programme. Finally, Mr S. Mallick explained recent IAEA efforts in the area of capacity building. The IAEA has developed together with the Member States an integrated concept of capacity building that includes four pillars: education and training, human resources development, knowledge management and knowledge networks. A methodology for self-assessment of the capacity building has been developed and is available on the web[2].This methodology includes questionnaires addressing the capacity building aspects related to the government and the relevant stakeholder organisations such as the regulators, operator, technical support and safety organisations universities and educational institutions.

2.2Presentations[i] by IAEA staff and SC ‘Members

The member states representatives presented the national update in the area of developing competence with a focus on the regulatory issues and their experience using SARCoN and the 4Q model. Reports were given by Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Slovakia, United Kingdom and Vietnam. A discussion followed emphasizing the following issues:

  1. Generational gap and aging of the regulatory staff.
  2. Challenges on competence, expertise and training for both senior staff and newcomers
  3. SARCoN and the 4Q is found very useful however flexibility in its application should be kept in mind –It can be modified/tailored in order to reflect to the needs and resources of the country

IAEA’s staff gave an update on IAEA training related activities in the following areas: radiation safety, security, emergency preparedness and response, e learning tool for applying the milestones approach, training safety packages, IRIS (self-assessment for safety infrastructure) and the Regulatory Cooperation Forum (RCF).

Topical presentations were also given by the member states on relevant regional work. The Forum of Ibero American regulators is engaged in a three years project for developing regulatory competency framework and profiles using a version of SARCoN adapted to the Latino American region. The Forum also contributed to the revision of the safety report. Similarly a presentation was given on a European Union Cooperation project to strengthen regulatory and technical capacities of regulatory bodies.

2.3Presentation and discussion of the SC’s Action Plan and the revised medium-long term strategic approach to r education and training in nuclear safety

The Action Plan of the SC was presented briefly by Ms K. Koskinen. The last day of the meeting Ms Moracho reported on the IAEA progress on each of actions and the future action plan for 2013 was revised and discussed. Ms Moracho also presented the final draft proposal for the medium-long term IAEA Strategic Approachto Education and Training in nuclear safety and the role of the SC in revising and advising on the implementation of the strategy was acknowledged.

2.3.1Safety Report

The members of the SC reviewed the latest available draft version of the Safety Report, and provided feedback to the IAEA. The general view of the SC is that although the structure of the competences in Appendix V of the safety report is somewhat different to that in the main body of the report, the information in Appendix V is helpful. The SC recognizes that the IAEA will undertake some further minor editorial work on the safety report, but encourages the IAEA to publish the document as soon as practicable, and the SC considers the document is now generally fit for purpose.

2.3.2Basic Professional Training Course (BPTC), Regulatory Control Course and Other Training Materials

The IAEA informed that the BPTC is held regionally in the Asian and Latin-American region. The regulatory Control book needs to start a revision; a first outline of contents in line with the new GSR PART 1 has been drafted. A Consultants meeting shall be arranged during next year. The SC was asked to cooperate as possible in this revision.

The IAEA web for training was presented and appreciated. New video presentations from a workshop in the area of safety culture were disseminated to the participants.

Also newsletters on training are regularly produced and disseminated in the SC.

2.3.3Seminar on SARCoN guidelines

The new software for applying the SARCoN guidelines was presented. Four working groups were established in order to test user interface and get feedback from the set of competencies.

Overall the new software was found useful and it was agreed that an improved version shall incorporate the feedback from the working groups.

It was agreed that the next step is to revise the set of competencies of SARCON questionnaires in line with the safety report. The safety report modified slightly the arrangement of the first level of competence areas within the four quadrant model. A revision of SARCoN will therefore be needed in line with these modifications.

More information about SARCoN is available at:

3Conclusions, further Actions and date for the 5th SC meeting

The SC meeting achieved its objectives in line with its mission and action plan. The agenda provided for a comprehensive presentation and up to date of the Agency activities in the area of regulatory competence as well as presentations from the Member States on their national situation. The dissemination of national reports, presentations and discussions fostered exchange of views and useful information about current systems for developing and ensuring regulatory competence in the Member States and provided useful advice to the IAEA on how best further support Member States’ regulators in the area of human resources development. The participation of regulators from countries planning to embark on a nuclear power programme was very positive and fruitful for all country members and for the IAEA.

The SARCoN software seminar was appreciated as it permitted a better understanding of its principles and use. The safety report was finalised and appreciated as an important step towards the development of advice for establishing adequate competence management systems in line with the IAEA safety standards. This is an important achievement of the SC and provides the basis for further work in the area for human resources development

The SC’s action plan for 2013 was revised and discussed as well as the newly developed IAEA strategy for education and training for 2013-2022. This gives the IAEA a validated framework for developing its activities in support of education and training in the Member States, in the short and medium term.

The IAEA secretariat shall continue to report the SC on new developments, newsletters and asking for comments and advice as appropriate during the year. Information on the conclusions of the Bureau meetings shall also be disseminated to the SC members through the web based shared space .

The 5th meeting of the SC shall take place during the week of 29-31 October 2013 in Vienna.

Appendix I. Agenda

4th Meeting of the Steering Committee on Competence
of Human Resources for Regulatory Bodies and Seminar on SARCoN
(Systematic Assessment of Regulatory Competence Needs)
4 – 7 December 2012
VIC, Room M6
Draft Agenda
Tuesday 4th December 2012
9:30 - 17:30
Opening remarks (9:30) / J. Lyons,
Division Director NSNI
IAEA
Highlights from the Regulatory Activities Sections (9:40) / A. Nicic
Section Head Regulatory Activities Sections
IAEA
Presentation and adoption of the agenda (10:00) / Mark Gabbott
UK
Introduction of participants (10:05) / All
Developments after the accident at TEPCO Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant - Action Plan - Action 9 “Capacity Building”(10:15) / S. Mallick
IAEA
Coffee Break (10:40)
Session 1
Country Presentations:
Current status of the Regulator in the area of competence and Training &Challenges and Needs
Armenia (11:00) / A. Hovhannisyan
Belarus(11:15) / T. Bosenko
Belgium(11:30) / P. Mignot
Bulgaria(11:45) / V. Sabinova
Egypt(12:00) / G.E.-D. Orabi
Finland(12:15) / A.K. Koskinen
Germany(12:30) / M. Jelinski
Indonesia(12:45) / T. Handayani
Lunch Break ……………………………………………………………………………13:00 – 14:30
Jordan(14:30) / M. Atiyat
Lithuania(14:45) / R. Daubaras
Malaysia(15:00) / M. Kostor
Mexico(15:15) / J.L. Esquivel Torres
Pakistan(15:30) / M. Ayub
Russian Federation(15:45) / E. Sokolova
Coffee Break (16:00)
Slovakia (16:20) / V. Szabo
United Kingdom(17:05) / M. Gabbott
Vietnam(17:20) / H.T. Vuong
End of the Day. Cocktail reception at the VIC Cheese & Wine (17:30)
Wednesday 5th December 2012
9:30 - 17:00
Session 2
Progress in the implementation of the Work Program and IAEA updates
Presentation of the work programme revised by the Bureau of the SC (9:30) / K. Koskinen
Bureau Member, STUK, Finland
Status of the safety report :”Managing Regulatory Body Competence” (9:50) / H. Suman, M. Moracho
IAEA
Appendix on Embarking Countries and RCF (10:20) / S. Koenick(IAEA),
Update on IAEA training activities in support of the countries embarking on a NPP (10:40) / S. Koenick
IAEA
Coffee Break (11:00)
IRIS Self-Assessment of safety infrastructure (11:20) / J. R Jubin
IAEA
E-Learning project (11:45) / B. Molloy,
I. Isotalo
IAEA
Emergency preparedness and response (12:05) / R. Salinas
IAEA
Security (12:30) / D. Lambert
IAEA
Lunch Break / 13:00 – 14:30
Education and Training in the area of Safety Assessments (14:30)_ / P. Wells
IAEA
Update on the IAEA web and new training materials, shared space,
New multimedia materials in safety culture (15:00) / M. Zimmermann
IAEA
Coffee Break (15:45)
Area of Radiation Safety (16:15) / A. LucianiIAEA
Discussion on current activities and further needs (16:30) / All
End of the day
Thursday 6th December 2012
9:30 - 17:15
Session 3
Plan for 2013 and SARCoN Seminar
IAEA Strategy for Education and Training in Nuclear Safety (9:30) / M. Moracho,
Scientific Secretary
IAEA
Presentation and discussion of the action plan for next year (10:00) / M. Gabbott
Chairman,
ONR, UK,
Coffee Break
Presentation and discussion of the action plan for next year / All
Conclusions, future actions / Chairman
Lunch break / 13:30 14:30
Practical example of applying SARCoN in Belgium (14:30) / P. Mignot
BEL V
Presentation from Mexico/ Foro ( Latino American Regulators): Task force on regulatory competence and use of SARCoN (14:50) / J. Esquivel
CNSNS
Practical example of applying SARCoN in Pakistan (15:10) / A.M. Mehdi
IAEA
European Union Cooperation to strengthen regulatory & technical capacities of RBs / MsSlavcheva,
ITER, Italy
Coffee Break (15:30)
Introduction to Human Resource Management & SSG-16 Actions(16:00) / A.M. Mehdi
IAEA
Preparation of Seminar on SARCoN (Working Groups) / All
End of the Day / 17:00
Friday 7th December 2012
9:30 - 15:00
Follow up seminar on the use of SARCoN
(Systematic Assessment of Regulatory Competence Needs)
Presentation of the SARCoN software tool and how to use it. / M. Zimmermann
IAEA
Hands-on exercise on the SARCoN software tool in Working Groups:
Working Groups Part 1 / All
Coffee Break
Working Groups Part 2 / All
Lunch Break / 12:30 – 14:00
Presentation of the results. / M. Zimmermann,
A.M. Mehdi
IAEA
Conclusions and future actions / All
Dates for the 5th SC
Closure of the 4th SC meeting and the seminar

Appendix II. List of Participants

COUNTRY / PARTICIPANT / OFFICIAL MAILING ADDRESS;
ORGANIZATION
Armenia / Mr / Hovhannisyan
Artur,
/ Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA)
4 Tigran Mets st.
0010 YEREVAN
ARMENIA
Tel: 00374 1 0543992
Fax: 00374 1 0581962
Email:
Belarus / Ms / Bosenko
Tatyana,
/ Ministry of Emergencies of the Republic of Belarus; Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor)
BetonniyProezd Street, 33
220036 MINSK
BELARUS
Tel: 00375 17 2099631
Fax: 00375 17 2529984
Email:
Belgium / Mr / Mignot
Pierre,
/ Bel V
Rue Walcourt 148
1070 BRUXELLES
BELGIUM
Tel: 0032 2 5280234
Fax: 0032 2 5280102
Email:
Bulgaria / Ms / Sabinova
Vera,
/ Nuclear Regulatory Agency
69 ShipchenskiProkhod Blvd.
SOFIA, BULGARIA
Tel: +3 592 9406883
Email:
Egypt / Mr / Orabi
Galal El-Din,
/ Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA); National Centre for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control (NCNSRC); Material Safety and Fuel Cycle Department
3 Ahmed El-Zomor Street
El Zohoor District
CAIRO 11787
EGYPT
Tel: +20 2 2272 8815
Fax: +20 2 2276 0238
Email:
Finland / Ms / Koskinen
Annkaisa,
/ Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK); Nuclear Safety
Laippatie 4
P.O.Box 14
00880 HELSINKI
FINLAND
Tel: 00358 9 75988382
Fax: 00358 9 75988400
Email:
Germany / Ms / Jelinski
Marianne,
/ Gesellschaft fuer Anlagen und Reaktorsicherheit mbH
Schwertnergasse 1
D-50667 Cologne
Germany
Tel: +49 221 2068 616
Email:
Indonesia / Ms / Handayani
Taruniyati,
/ Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN); Directorate for Regulatory Development of Nuclear Installation and Nuclear Materials; Sub Directorate for Regulatory Development of Non-Power Reactor
Jl. Gajah Mada 8, Central Jakarta
P.O. Box 4005
10210 JAKARTA
INDONESIA
Tel: 0062 21 6385 8269
Fax: 0062 21 630 2547
Email:
Italy / Mr / Gasparini
Marco,
/ Rögergasse 32/27
1090 VIENNA
AUSTRIA
Tel: +39 06 7707 2888
Email:
Italy / Mr / Madonna
Antonio,
; / ITER-Consult
Via. A. Poliziano, 51
00184 ROMA
ITALY
Tel: +39 06 770 72 888
Fax: +39 06 23328132
Email: ;
Italy / Ms / Slavcheva
Katya,
/ ITER-Consult
P.zza San Pietro 36, 00029
Vicovaro - Roma
Tel: +39-0677072888
Email:
Jordan / Mr / Atiyat
Mohammed,
/ Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Zahran Street, 4th Circle
Jabal Amman
P.O. Box 830283
11183 AMMAN
JORDAN
Tel: 00962 659 27124
Fax: 00962 65927144
Email:
Lithuania / Mr / Daubaras
Rimantas,
/ State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI)
A. Gostauto Street 12
01108 VILNIUS
LITHUANIA
Tel: 0037052661624
Fax: 0037052614487
Email:
Malaysia / Ms / Kostor
Monalija,
/ Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB)
Batu 24, JalanDengkil
43800 DENGKIL, Selangor
MALAYSIA
Tel: +603 89225888; 0060389284163
Fax: +603 89223685
Email:
Mexico / Mr / Esquivel Torres
Jose Luis,
/ Secretaría de Energía; ComisiónNacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias (CNSNS)
Dr José María Barragán 779, Colonia Narvarte.
Deleg. BenitJuárez
03020 CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, D.F.
MEXICO
Tel: 0052 55 50953200
Email:
Pakistan / Mr / Ayub
Muhammad,
/ Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA)
G-8 Mauve Area
P.O. Box 1912
ISLAMABAD 44000
PAKISTAN
Tel: 0092 51 9262993
Fax: 0092 51 9204112
Email:
Russian Federation / Ms / Sokolova
Elena,
/ Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor); Scientific and Engineering Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SEC NRS)
Malaya Krasnoselskayaulitsa 2/8, dom 5
107140 MOSCOW
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Tel: 007 495 2640352
Fax: 007 495 2642859
Email:
Slovakia / Mr / Szabo
Viktor,
/ Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (UJD SR)
Bajkalska 27
P.O. Box 24
820 07 BRATISLAVA
SLOVAKIA
Tel: +421 2 5822120
Fax: +421 2 58221166
Email:
United Kingdom / Mr / Gabbott
Mark,
/ Office for Nuclear Regulation
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Nuclear Desk 45
4S.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road
Bootle L20 7HS
Email:
Vietnam / Mr / Vuong
Huu Tan,
/ Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS)
Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS)
Director General
Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS)
14th floor, Headquarter of Ministry of Science and Technolgogy (MOST)
113 Tran Duy Str.
HANOI
VIETNAM
Tel: +84 43 9410213
Fax: +84 43 8220298
Email:

IAEA Staff: