The Role of Universities
Universities are central to developing the nuclear workforce, offering foundational education and advanced studies that prepare engineers and scientists to ensure the safety of existing plants and lead innovation in advanced reactors, fuel cycles, and digital technologies. Enrollment in nuclear higher education is not keeping pace with predicted demand for workers in the nuclear industry. According to the most recent ORISE Nuclear Engineering Enrollments and Degrees Survey, between 2012 and 2022 nuclear energy bachelor’s degrees conferred dropped 25%.[2] In 2022, the number of master’s degrees awarded showed promising growth, increasing by 20% compared to 2021.[3] Despite this progress, the graduation rate remains 16% below the levels seen in 2019.[4] Therefore, more work in career pipeline and pathway development must be done to improve enrollment and graduation rates. Strategic initiatives, such as awareness campaigns, industry-academic partnerships, and early exposure to nuclear topics, are needed to inspire students to pursue advanced degrees and long-term careers in the field.
Graduate education and research are vital for equipping students with specialized knowledge in reactor design, regulatory modernization, and sustainable fuel management. The supply of nuclear industry knowledge-workers, such as engineers and project managers, is highly constrained.[5] This supply is further eroded by competition from adjacent industries like renewable energy, aerospace, and cybersecurity that value skills in technical disciplines, safety, compliance, and problem-solving.[6,7]
Curriculum modernization is also essential. Efforts to modernize curricula must address emerging skills in nuclear cybersecurity, digital twins, and hybrid energy systems while integrating sociotechnical factors such as political, ethical, and environmental considerations. Flexible learning tools, including augmented reality and digital twins, will be key to engaging future nuclear professionals.
Graphic Credit: National Organization of Test, Research and Training Reactors
Curriculum modernization is essential. Many programs do not include emerging skills like nuclear cybersecurity, digital twins, and hybrid energy systems—crucial for licensing and deploying next-generation reactors. Students should also grasp how sociotechnical factors—including political, ethical, financial, and environmental considerations—influence the nuclear industry as well as cultivate the necessary skills to address these issues such as engaging stakeholders and effectively communicating risks.
Financial constraints further limit advanced studies, underscoring the need for continued investment in graduate research, national laboratory collaborations, and standardized open-access curricula. The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy has responded to this challenge by investing over one billion dollars in nuclear education and research, supporting university reactor upgrades and outreach to K-12 and vocational institutions to raise awareness of nuclear science and technology.[8] Sustained funding will be critical to meeting the growing demand for trained nuclear professionals.