Ten Emirati students have returned to the UAE from the South Korea where they gained invaluable hands-on experience, nuclear industry insight, and an introduction to Korean culture through the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) summer internship program, organized in partnership with KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS).

The students from Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have been studying on the KINGS campus in Ulsan this summer. The internship program sought to nurture students’ academic knowledge while simultaneously providing them with experience in the form of on-the-job training. The program aligns with the Abu Dhabi Plan and Economic Vision 2030, which aims to develop Emiratis in STEM subjects through direct educational and training programs, and scholarships. 

The program participants visited and worked at some of Korea’s leading science research centres and industrial parks, as well as the country’s most advanced nuclear energy plants. The students also enjoyed learning about the rich Korean culture with a tour of Seoul.

The internship program was organized by ENEC and Nawah, the operating subsidiary for the UAE peaceful nuclear energy program, together with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Korea Plant Service & Engineering (KPS), Korea Nuclear Fuel (KNF), KEPCO Engineering & Construction (KEPCO E&C) and the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MoTIE).

The students began their journey on the KINGS campus in Ulsan, Korea where they underwent a four-week Nuclear Power Familiarization Course before commencing with two weeks on-the-job training at a variety of research facilities and institutions around South Korea. The program was designed to not only give the students onsite experience but also introduce them to key organizations in the nuclear industry.

“Through our internship programs, ENEC is proud to be able to offer great opportunities for talented students to get out of the classroom and put theory into practice. Students were introduced to specialized, technical concepts and had a chance to enhance their skills and knowledge. Initiatives, such as this program in Korea, put students on the path to becoming key players in the UAE’s future nuclear energy sector,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, who attended the graduation ceremony in Seoul.

“Developing our human resources and expertise is key to the sustainability of the UAE’s nuclear energy program. All of our programs combine a discipline-focused curriculum with real, hands-on experience from some of the industry’s leading engineering and nuclear energy experts, to ensure our students enter the UAE’s nuclear energy industry with world-class training. ENEC’s overriding commitment to safety, security, and continuous learning makes it a challenging and rewarding career choice for our country’s best students,” added Al Hammadi.

ENEC offers a wide range of scholarship-based training and development programs for UAE nationals, which include undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational courses.  ENEC’s scholarship programs include Bachelors and Masters programs, and the Higher Diploma of Advanced Energy Engineering Technology program, which is available through the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic.

The construction of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant commenced in 2012 and is progressing steadily, Unit 1 is now more than 90 percent complete and overall construction of Units 1 to 4 is now more than 68 percent complete. All four units will deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid.

We accept Guest Posts