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ERPC’s objectives

The main objective of the ERPC is to train at high level, in nuclear, medical or industrial applications, the experts in charge of radiation protection and radiological risk assessment and prevention, of the installations inspections, of the exposed people and environment monitoring, of accident management. The course provides the participants the theoretical knowledge needed to be recognised as a qualified expert in radiation protection, with the possibility to specialise in the field of radiation protection.

These experts have to analyse all types of normal, incidental or accidental situations, to implement preventive actions and countermeasures, to give advice to decision makers and competent authorities. The expert should be able to conceive and to set up evaluations and measures in radiation protection relating to real practical instances.

The course is organised in four independent modules (See table 1). Content of ERPC is in accordance with European Community requirements for the qualified experts training’s [1,2].

We consider that it is extremely important that the teaching program includes practical works and exercises. To this end the teaching program includes theoretical lectures focusing on general principles completed to 50% of the teaching time, by practical works, exercises and visits (crisis management centre, environmental monitoring labs, nuclear waste storage facility, hospitals, radiopharmaceuticals production sites, industrial irradiators…).

The program of the second edition during the school - year 2001/2002 is presented in table 1.

Students (initial training) or professionals (continuous professional development) issued from all European countries have the possibility to register in one or several module during one or several. The national co-ordinator must valid the educational levels requested in his country..

On-the job-training

For the students, practical experience, 3 up to 6 month(s), in a facility dealing with ionising radiation applications in any of the participating country is mandatory. The choice of this facility should be submitted to the board in agreement with the defined criteria. The attendee should write a scientific report. The practical experience is validated by the tutor and by a national examining board after an oral presentation.

For the professionals, a practical experience could be organised upon request.

At the end of each module, a written and individual examination composed by Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and short problems is organised. A certificate detailing the concerned modules is awarded to the participants who have successfully passed the corresponding examination. A certificate of attendance is delivered to the attendees who failed the exam. A second opportunity might be proposed to these attendees by the examining board.

In addition and in order to evaluate the quality of the course, of the lecturers, of the pedagogical material provided for each topic, each participant shall anonymously fill in an evaluation form. The synthesis of these evaluations is done by the ERPC board who defines with the concerned teachers the necessary corrective actions and follow-up on their implementation.

the ERPC board is composed by the national co-ordinators from Partner Institutions, excluding Associated Institutions. In 2003, these country are : Germany (BFS), England (University of Surrey, Belgium (CEN Mol), Spain (CIEMAT, CSN), Holland (NRG) Italy (ENEA, AMPA), France (DGSNR, INSTN). The board is responsible for the contents of the training course, for the criteria used for the selection of the participants and for the contents and organisation of the exams.

The attendance to the course is under the responsibility of each local co-ordinator (one per country). Among the co-ordinator's tasks are the following : informing the target population of the program, selection and follow-up of the participants, suggestion of lecturers, on the job training, selection of themes, companies and/or institutes and/or hospitals.

The students coming from countries without national co-ordinator will be manage by the general co-ordinator of INSTN.

Lectures, practical works and exercises are given by a pool of academics teachers or professionals issued from European countries and IAEA.

The English language is systematically used all along the training..

The training, organised by European partners, takes place at the INSTN (National Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies), near Paris, close to the French center of research of Saclay.

The ERPC has already contributed to diffuse a common European culture. Since 2000, we have already trained European people from different country, and the ERPC has already allowed the share of experience between European teachers and European participants specialised in radiation Protection.

The next session is starting in October 2002. The objective is always to go on to permit exchanges between experts, teachers and participants.

All the additional requests to joint the board by additional countries will be examined.

For further information

T. Juhel
CEA / Saclay. INSTN / UERBM
 91191 Gif sur Yvette France.
 phone 33 1 69 08 23 57
fax 33 1 69 08 57 53
email : thierry.juhel@cea.fr

1. Council Directive 96/29 Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. Official journal NO L 159, 29/06/1996. 0001-0114. Articles 1,12, 19, 20, 23, 38,47.

2. European Community : communication of  the  Commission 98/C 133 /03.