The Engineering of an Undergraduate Nuclear Education Program in Jordan

Abstract

Recognizing the vital importance of nuclear knowledge and that human capacity building is the first step in ‎the effective planning and implementation of a successful nuclear power program, in 2006/2007 Jordan made the ‎decision to establish a nuclear engineering education program. The establishment of such a program was the first step in Jordan’s efforts to develop its nuclear infrastructure and to introduce nuclear power as part ‎of its energy mix.‎ The Nuclear Engineering department at Jordan University of Science and Technology ‎‎(JUST), is the first and only such department/program in Jordan. To provide top quality nuclear education that will lead to ‎realistic teaching instruction this department was engineered and designed based on four factors; curriculum, ‎faculty, facilities and students. This paper presents the establishment of nuclear engineering education in Jordan and the department role in building Jordan’s human capacity to ensure the proper implementation of its nuclear power ‎program; it further evaluates the department challenges and current status.