South Korea trains UAE students on nuclear plants

Bilateral ties between the UAE and South Korea is poised to reach new heights with Seoul pushing for closer partnership by taking the initiative to train Emirati students into highly skilled workforce to manage the nuclear reactors set to be built in the country.

This follows the $20 billion (Dh73.40 billion) contract the UAE awarded to Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) to build nuclear reactors in the country, Korea Times reported.

As part of the co-operation, 48 students from UAE's Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) and Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research were recently trained in a month-long session on nuclear facilities.

"Many of the students will become the main operators of the UAE nuclear reactors in the future. We plan to hold a training session like this every year," the report quoted Kepco spokesperson Kim Hye-lim as saying.

"Most of them were happy with the education about our nuclear power station or the on-site training, which will take charge of the UAE facilities," he added.

The stay, he said, was not just about technical traning, but also about cultural exchange. The UAE students got a chance to experience Korean traditions and customs.

"For example, they sat crossed-legged on the floor for a meal and tried the country’s representative food of kimchi even though they were instantly taken aback due to its spicy taste," he said.

Under a buddy programme, South Korean students at Sudo Electric Technical High School took care of the needs of their guests from the UAE.

In continuation of the co-operation, Kepco and IAT are set to start a specialised three-year course in September 2011 to train the staff who will eventually play a vital role in operating UAE's nuclear reactors.

Asia's fourth largest economy, South Korea meets 40 per cent of its energy needs through nuclear energy.
 

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