CANE - Coalition Against Nuclear Energy South Africa

a Pebble Bed Modular Reactor PTY(LTD), P.O. Box 9394, Centurion 0046, RSA
b South African Young Professionals Society
c South African Nuclear Energy Corporation

E-mail address of main author: Sam.thugwane@pbmr.co.za

ABSTRACT
The South African Young Nuclear Professionals Society (SAYNPS) was established in 2002 after the Second Biannual Conference of the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) in Daejong, South Korea.

Its main objectives are to promote skill development and knowledge transfer from experienced nuclear professionals to the young generation, preservation of nuclear knowledge and public education. These objectives are very crucial since many nuclear experts are about to retire and could leave the industry with shortage of skill.
A document is being developed to address strategies that can be used to close the gap between the young less experienced professionals and experts in the field. SAYNPS holds a conference every year and this provides young professionals with a platform to share their experiences and knowledge. Workshops and information sessions in the work places are very much encouraged because young professionals can learn a lot and perfect their knowledge from positive criticism. Newsletter and website will be established as forums for young professionals and experts in nuclear industry. The major challenges will be willingness of experts to share and making sure that all knowledge is captured, stored and kept up to date.

Futhermore, the mammoth task is to deal with is the negative sentiments about the safe usage of nuclear technology which won’t be easy to achieve but SAYNPS is committed to seeing the process through. Government agencies in South Africa regularly organize campaigns that promote science and technology. SAYNPS encourages its membership to play a role in these campaigns through exhibitions and school outreach.

These campaigns are done to educate the public in general, science teachers and school kids about the benefit of the safe usage of nuclear technology and also to encourage kids to follow careers in nuclear.

SCOPE: This paper presents SAYNPS’ point of view with regard to skills development and transfer, nuclear knowledge management, public education as well as SAYNPS’ achievements to date.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The background and the history of the society
The South African Young Nuclear Professional Society (SAYNPS) was established immediately after the Second International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) Bi-Annual Conference that was held in South Korea in 2002. It encourages young nuclear professionals (technical and non-technical) to actively participate in national and international peaceful nuclear activities. At the moment it has more than 200 members across the country. Members come from various nuclear related organizations/institutions in the country such as National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa), Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), Eskom, iThemba LABS, Universities, etc.

1.2 The main objectives of the society
Ensuring that South African nuclear industry contains the necessary skills and knowledge even in the future through skills development and transfer.
Preservation of nuclear information for future nuclear generation and operations sustainability;
Assist in the outreach campaigns of informing the public about the importance of nuclear science and technology in the society.

2. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER
The South African Nuclear Industry has been growing since the beginning (initiation) of the PBMR project, building of a smelter, Helium Testing Facility and fuel plant at the Necsa site, etc. Furthermore, the localization of supply chains in the country will also put more demand on the skills development and transfer. SAYNPS has developed a strategic document to serve as a guideline on how these mentioned challenges can be addressed [1].
The proposed strategy will be aligned with the National Skills Development Strategy [2] and should get support from the Nuclear Industry. Young professionals and recent graduates are the most affected people who lack skills and shall benefit from the programmes contained in the said strategic document. In order for skills development and transfer to occur within the industry, there should be a skills development and transfer plan, strategy and procedures to be followed.

2.1 Skill development and transfer strategy

2.1.1 Skills Audit Plan (SAP)
The Skills Audit Plan (SAP) is viewed as a valid reason for the need to develop and transfer skills from the available sources of expertise to the relevant human resources that should be established as follows:

2.1.1.1 Conduct an audit on Young Nuclear Professionals (YNPs) to assess:
Level of qualification obtained
Level of competence of the YNPs in their designated areas of work
Training needs and Future plans for the YNPs.

2.1.1.2 Conduct an audit on nuclear experts to assess
Availability of expertise in various nuclear disciplines
Competence to deliver skills to the YNPs
Eagerness to impart skills to YNPs
Challenges to be envisaged during the process of skills transfer
Expectations for their involvement in the process
The process to achieve the objectives of this audit plan will be through distribution of questionnaires to YNPs and Nuclear Experts within various nuclear organizations in the country and ad hoc discussions with relevant people.

2.2 Skills Development and Transfer Plan
Based on the outcomes of the SAP, skills development and transfer program will then be developed and implemented. The plan will comprise the following programmes:

2.2.1 Skills development programme

2.2.1.1 Job specific skills
These are the specific skills that help an employee to accomplish the duties of the job and could be acquired through in-service training, workshops, etc

2.2.1.2 Self-attained Skills
These refers to the pro-activeness by the skills requiring professional in order to show activeness to acquire the necessary skills where follow-ups are made without being pushed by the mentor. YNPs should take initiatives to acquire other skills necessary to supplement the programmes.

2.2.1.3 Project development
Projects should be developed and allocated to YNPs. These projects will entail the nature of activities the YNPs have to complete and have a well defined structure with respect to scope and target dates. The following could serve as guidelines how such projects/programmes can be established.
Set the standardized mentorship programmes in the nuclear industry.
Identify skills requirement categories in terms of preference and scarcity
Identify mentors by means of volunteering, nominations, hiring, etc.
Identify clear cuts for YNPs progression during the process of mentorship.
Each level will be associated with criteria for measurable outputs for YNPs promotion.

2.3 Interaction with Nuclear Stakeholders
According to the National Skills Development Act [3], employers are encouraged to:
use the workplace as an active learning environment;
provide employees with the opportunities to acquire new skills;
provide opportunities for new entrants to the labour market to gain work experience.
Hence, employers pay the Skill levy [4].
Once the skills audit has been conducted, SAYNPS will facilitate discussions with stakeholders, viz. Governments departments, nuclear companies in SA, institutions of higher learning, nuclear and radiation societies and South African Qualification Authority (SAQA). These stakeholders should establish a National Nuclear Skills Transfer Committee that will:
Identify all the scarce skills needed by the Nuclear Industry
Advise the Government and the Nuclear Industry about the Skill Development
Programme that should be established
Develop a National Skills Development Strategy for the Nuclear Industry.
Develop Competency Standards.

2.4 Competence Standard Setting
Setting of national standards of competence for skills development and transfer programmes is of utmost importance. This shall give professionals who have acquired skills recognition in all nuclear related organizations and globally. The setting of competence standards for the YNPs will be conducted between SAYNPS executive committee and the National Nuclear Skills Transfer Committee. Once a mentored professional has attained the required level in accordance with a standard, a certificate shall be granted. The general opinion is that this should be recognized by all nuclear role players

3. NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
SAYNPS has adopted a system of inflow and outflow of information [5]. In order to be successful within the boundaries of knowledge management, an exchange of ideas pertaining to the specific knowledge area is helpful. Within a nuclear operating organization, there is a need for professionals to understand the functions of each division and the way they relate to each other for the achievement of organization’s objectives. Secondly, within the country’s nuclear industry there is also a need for the role players to understand the functions and objectives of each nuclear facility (organization) as well as the way in which other operations within other organizations are being integrated in the former party. This becomes a matrix that may link the global peaceful nuclear activities in a system of knowledge management sustainability.

3.1 Inflow of information

3.1.1 Knowledge gathering
SAYNPS encourages young nuclear professionals to be involved in studying and researching in the field of nuclear science and technology [6]. Fortunately in SA, companies such as PBMR, NECSA, NNR, iThemba LABS fund students for their research projects and in that way there is much activity in this regard.

3.1.2 Knowledge capturing
Conference proceedings are distributed to all young nuclear professionals and nuclear stakeholder libraries. The SAYNPS website will be established in order to preserve what is have acquired in conferences, workshops and discussions to enable sharing of information. It will be accessible to all, and enable positive criticism and create interest for others to join the profession.

3.2 Outflow of information

3.2.1 Knowledge sharing
SAYNPS organizes workshops, conferences, lectures and Symposia every year [7]. In all these meetings nuclear experts and young nuclear professionals come together to share important knowledge. Young nuclear professionals are also given a chance to share knowledge through oral and poster presentations. Colloquia and information sessions in the work places are very much encouraged because young professionals can learn a lot and perfect their knowledge from positive criticism.

3.2.2 Knowledge Transfer
SAYNPS encourages mentorship programmes to be established through the entire nuclear stakeholders. Mentoring is most useful and cost effective way of enabling an individual to learn from experts who can transfer skills and knowledge. Mentoring processes come through as strategic objective within the organization, meaning that it is geared towards assisting the organization to achieve business objectives. It must therefore be linked to the vision, mission and succession plans of the organization. In order for a mentorship programme to be successful it should be driven from the top management and in a controlled manner. When mentoring is properly managed, it has the power to make significant transitions in knowledge and thinking for both mentor and menthees in the mentoring process .

3.2.3 Knowledge Publishing
YNPs are encouraged to publish their work. A newsletter containing all the activities of the society and articles will be published. It will be used to inform members of new developments in the nuclear industry both local and globally. Articles will be written by both young and old nuclear professionals. SAYNPS website will also be used as a forum for young professionals and experts in the nuclear field.

4. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CAMPAIGNS
Government agencies in South Africa organize campaigns that promote science and technology every year. These campaigns include the National Science Week (NSW), Science Olympiads, energy week, science radio programmes and public meetings with the affected communities residing in the vicinity of the nuclear power plants. SAYNPS membership play a role in these campaigns through exhibitions and presentations by educating the public in general about the safe use of nuclear technology. School outreach programmes are used to teach science teachers and school children about the generation of energy through nuclear technology.

5. SAYNPS ACHIEVEMENTS

5.1 Launch
SAYNPS was launched on the 25th August 2006 at Eskom Convention Centre in Midrand, South Africa. The main nuclear role players, including the nuclear regulator were represented by their respective Chief Executive Officers (CEO) or their representatives, who reflected their support to SAYNPS by signing the pledge document. The event was attended by 140 delegates from nuclear stakeholders including government departments and members of the public. The guest speaker presented a lecture on the skills development and the involvement of youth in the energy sector.

5.2 Workshop
The national youth nuclear workshop was organized in January , after South Africa failed to win a bid during the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) Conference held in Canada in 2004. It was attended by 180 delegates within the country and it was sponsored by the SA Department of Science and Technology. The main aim of the workshop was to strategically unite both old and young nuclear professionals in the country to discuss the following issues that may, directly or indirectly, affect negatively on the future performance and sustainability of the South African nuclear industry:
The expanding knowledge gap between YNPs and old nuclear experts.
Lack of skills transfer within the nuclear industry.
Inadequate nuclear education campaigns for the public.
Lack of networking strategies within the nuclear profession.
The outcome of the discussion reflected a general concern by the participants, that the above mentioned issues have not yet been addressed satisfactorily. Thus, this puts the nuclear industry at an awkward position to benefit the country. During the workshop, various nuclear related topics (technical and non-technical) were presented. The topics covered both power and non-power applications of nuclear technology.

5.3 Participation in IAEA Knowledge Management and IYNC Conferences
SAYNPS has, on behalf of the South African young nuclear professionals, been invited by IAEA to participate in the two IAEA conferences that were held in France, Saclay (September 2004) and Italy (November 2004) respectively. SAYNPS also participated in the three IYNC conferences held in Seoul, South Korea (2002), Toronto, Canada (2004) and Sweden (2006) respectively. SAYNPS prepared and presented a bid proposal to the IYNC international executive committee in Canada, in May 2004 with the aim of hosting IYNC conference in 2006. The bid was given to Sweden, but our country is now among the international countries that have shown great efforts in participating in peaceful nuclear activities worldwide. The SAYNPS initiative was supported by the government departments and the nuclear industry.

5.4 Public Nuclear Education
SAYNPS participated in School outreach and National Science Week. Three Provinces were visited and presentations on nuclear public awareness were made. These campaigns were attended by science teachers and the children. Media presentations were made in three local radio stations. However, in all these it was establish that a lot of public awareness campaigns with regard to safe usage and the benefit of nuclear technology should be enhanced. This is a mammoth task facing the nuclear industry globally that still needs to be dealt with.

6. CONCLUSION
The participation of young nuclear professionals in the decision-making, skills development programmes and public education will help in preserving nuclear knowledge. When old experts retire, young professionals will have enough experience and knowledge in the field.
Public education is still a task that needs to be intensified in order for the public to know the benefit and the safe use of nuclear technology.