In the above-mentioned report, the NEA suggested that the industry, research institutes and universities need to work together to coordinate efforts better to encourage the younger generation, as well as to develop and promote a programme of collaboration in nuclear education and train­ing, and to provide a mechanism for sharing best practices in promoting nuclear courses between member countries.

International collaboration would bring benefits, such as:

• Sharing costs among different countries, since development of training systems may be too expensive for one nation

• To counter a withering pool of training resources and knowledge

• To harmonize training standards at an international level

• To push initiatives for international skills retention, as well as to attract the next generation of scientists and engineers

• To demonstrate a united global position on future nuclear technology.

Taking into consideration the recommendations from the NEA and being aware of the benefits, some common education and training efforts at inter­national level have already started.

Before discussing those international initiatives, it is necessary to intro­duce one of the most important references in training: the Institute of Nuclear Power Operation (INPO).