The programme was organized by the IAEA, Rosatom Technical Academy and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). The programme was opened by Viktor Mazepov, Director for International Cooperation at Rosatom Technical Academy. The Academy has cooperated with the IAEA in human resource development since 2011 and today serves as the first and only IAEA Collaborating Centre working in nuclear knowledge management and human resource development across five programmatic areas.
A key part of the programme was the visit to Rosatom Technical Academy in Obninsk, where participants were introduced to the Academy’s training infrastructure and approaches to simulator-based training for nuclear power plant personnel. IAEA expert Katia Slavcheva also presented the use of NPP simulators for education and human resource development.
The technical programme covered different stages of the nuclear technology lifecycle. Participants visited the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant, JINR research facilities and the fuel fabrication plant in Elektrostal, as well as joined virtual technical tours of the Akademik Lomonosov Floating Nuclear Power Plant and the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant. Alongside the technical visits, participants worked in teams on practical projects, developing nuclear sector strategies for hypothetical countries and applying knowledge gained throughout the programme.
«The contribution of Rosatom Technical Academy as an IAEA Collaborating Centre was instrumental in providing participants with access to Russia’s nuclear facilities, expertise and professional community», said IAEA expert Maria Naydenova.
Another important element was a series of mentoring and role-model sessions developed by Rosatom Technical Academy. Rosatom Tech led discussions on leadership, emotional intelligence, communication and personal effectiveness, while 11 women professionals from Rosatom and the IAEA shared their career experience with the participants.
The final day took place at the ATOM Pavilion at VDNH in Moscow, where participants presented the results of their project work. The programme concluded with a certificate award ceremony attended by Viktor Mazepov.
«I am confident that this Lise Meitner Programme cohort in the Russian Federation will have a long-lasting impact on the professional and personal lives of the participants and contribute to their future career development», said IAEA expert Katia Slavcheva.
Hosting the first Lise Meitner Programme professional visit in Russia marked a new stage in the long-standing cooperation between Rosatom Technical Academy and the IAEA in human resource development.
Background Information:
The IAEA Lise Meitner Programme has been implemented since 2023. To date, eight professional visits, including the programme in Russia, have been held, bringing together 115 women professionals from 49. The programme is designed to support the professional development of women in the nuclear sector and combines technical training, leadership development and international exchange of experience. The programme of the professional visit to Russia was developed jointly by the IAEA, Rosatom Technical Academy and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.