Training of specialists

One of the key factors in the consistent development of safe nuclear energy is the adequacy of human resources. Nuclear energy is an integrated branch of the economy requiring knowledge and competent, experienced specialists employed in this industry. The preliminary results of an evaluation of the demand for nuclear energy specialists  shows that currently,  for the overall nuclear energy infrastructure there is a shortage of approximately 80-90 nuclear energy specialists for the needs of Visaginas NPP. Additionally, some 65 nuclear energy specialists will be needed during the pre-design stage, as well as 170 during the basic decision-making stage and 450 during the construction stage of the nuclear power plant.

Depending on the technology of the nuclear power plant, up to 900 well-trained specialists will be needed at the Project Development Company of Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant, which later will become the operator of Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant. A portion of the vacancies can be taken by specialists who are presently employed at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. However, they should account for no more than 30-40 percent of the total number of needed staff.

The National Energy Strategy, approved by Resolution No X-1046 of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania dated 18 January 2007, provides that „It is necessary to draft a national programme for the training of energy specialists and specify therein the tasks for organising the studies, the quality of the study programmes and the maintenance of the material base of the institutions organising studies by taking into consideration new needs and sources of financing. When drafting and implementing this programme, national priority has to be given to ensuring the timely preparation of specialists for work in the new nuclear power plant regarding the phase of mounting its technological equipment.”

The National Training Programme of Qualified Specialists in Nuclear Energy for 2008–2015
The Study of Nuclear Energy Physics at Vilnius University
Graduate and Postgraduate Studies of Nuclear Energy at Kaunas Technological University
The Regional Nuclear Safety Training Centre in Lithuania