Partnership for Distance Nuclear Education – removing social barriers Through new Technology Erasmus Project

Project Title

Partnership for Distance Nuclear Education – removing social barriers Through new Technology

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Pedagogy and didactics; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

The main intention of this project “Partnership for Distance Nuclear Education – removing social barriers Through new Technology” is to design, to build and to carry out distance experimental nuclear education and exercises complementary to the theoretical lectures in nuclear engineering.

Experimental and hands-on experience is necessary to obtain the high quality and complete nuclear education but the access to research reactors is limited due to several reasons. The number of participants in the reactor hall or in the control room is usually limited due to security reasons. Also there may be problems to access the building by students with disabilities due to architectural barriers not considered in the original project of the structure and often with interventions of not immediate realization in authorized zone.

Theoretical lectures are nowadays routinely carried out worldwide using various standard e-learning platforms without any problems but the remote nuclear education is particularly challenging in the experimental education, hands-on activities, and interactive exercises. To ensure this sense of experimental education and exercises, it is necessary to use an innovative approach and significantly involve modern technologies. It is not just about providing electronic lectures it is important to involve a student in an experiment to see all activities in real time, provide him with online measured data and give him space to influence the course of the experiment based on his evaluation.

Four partners are involved in the PADINE-TT project – Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), University of Warsaw (UW) and University of Pavia (UNIPV). CTU and STU as host universities will broadcast education for guest universities, UW and UNIPV, as receivers. CTU is responsible for experimental education, hands on activities and broadcasting from the VR-1 Reactor and its laboratories. STU is responsible for exercises, organization of calculation workshop with focus on reactor physics. The contributions of both guest universities are complementary. The UW is currently developing a nuclear program and gradually gaining experience. Their involvement in the development of distance education will ensure suitability for the beginning of the country. The UNIPV, on the other hand, has extensive experience in reactor operation and experimental training. All four partners even host or guest will participate in all stages of design, carrying out, and evaluation of pilot courses.

The impact of PADINE-TT project will be observed not only on the side of education providing institutions, but also on the side of organizations expecting reliable nuclear education and training. The immediate impact of the project will be measured by bachelor or master degree students involved in the pilot courses for the partner universities. The qualitative indicators will be based on the evaluation of the feedback questionnaire completed by participants from host and guest universities, both students and lecturers. The long-term impact of the project solution lies in the gradual involvement of universities offering education in the field of nuclear engineering (at national, European and international level).

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 254273 Eur

Project Coordinator

CESKE VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V PRAZE & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA
• UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI
• SLOVENSKA TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V BRATISLAVE