Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
August 04, 2016
Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy Reaches Agreement with Two Malaysia Universities to Conduct New International Human Resource Development Program for Nuclear Energy
Tokyo, August 4, 2016 – Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd. (Hitachi-GE), a joint venture established by Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) and GE has renewed an agreement with the National University of Malaysia (UKM), one of five national research universities in Malaysia located in Selangor, and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), a private university located in Selangor and operated by Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Malaysia’s largest power company. Under the agreement, Hitachi-GE will conduct a new international human resource development program to train high-quality personnel for the nuclear power industry, which leverages Hitachi-GE funded course in Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) jointly conducted by Hitachi-GE and Tokyo Tech for the past five years. It will target students specializing in nuclear energy as well as researchers and other specialists from institutions involved in the nuclear power industry in Malaysia, covering a range of topics such as safety measures and the meaning and importance of the three principles for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. For this program, Hitachi-GE will work with Tokyo Tech, which has cooperative arrangements with UKM and UNITEN.
Malaysia is planning to introduce nuclear energy to diversify its sources of electric power as part of the Economic Transformation Programme aimed at becoming a developed nation by 2020. Much progress has been made on putting in place the foundations of a plan for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including the establishment of the Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC) in 2011 under the Prime Minister’s Department. Given the need for the effective transfer of technology and other know-how built up by countries with experience in power plant construction and operation, human resource development involving highly specialized education and training in nuclear energy has become an urgent requirement.
Hitachi-GE conventionally funded a course for international human resource development for the nuclear power industry at the Department of Nuclear Engineering (currently known as Graduate Major in Nuclear Engineering) of Tokyo Tech Graduate School of Engineering. It comprises a course in nuclear energy since April 2011, in collaboration with Tokyo Tech in venues such as Southeast Asia and other regions to date, a total of more than 2,000 students have attended the courses.
To further its commitment in human resource development, Hitachi-GE has entered into an agreement with UKM and UNITEN to launch a new program. The first of a series of nuclear power seminars will be held at UNITEN on September 20. The seminar will be conducted by a Hitachi-GE engineer and an associate professor from the Tokyo Tech to approximately 80 students specializing in nuclear energy, researchers and other specialists from institutions involved in the nuclear power industry.
Hitachi-GE has been actively involved in supporting students studying nuclear energy to become more international, organizing extramural courses, nuclear energy training for interns, and research exchanges. Moving forward, Hitachi-GE will continue working with Tokyo Tech to provide assistance for international human resource development for the nuclear power industry in countries that are introducing nuclear energy for the first time.
Hitachi-GE will also give a presentation on its involvement in human resource development for the nuclear power industry in Malaysia at the International Nuclear Science, Technology and Engineering Conference (NuSTEC) 2016, which will be held from August 8 to 10 at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Selangor.
About Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
Hitachi-GE, a joint venture established by Hitachi, Ltd. and General Electric Company in July 2007, as one of the world’s leading comprehensive plant manufacturers, engages in the development, planning, design, manufacture, inspection, installation, pre-operation, and maintenance of nuclear reactor-related equipment and is able to execute integrated project management. Hitachi-GE has been involved with 23 reactors in Japan to date, including those currently under construction.
