Outreach & Community
UNENE is committed to working with our members, partners, stakeholders and civil society to harness nuclear power for a world with clean, abundant energy and life-saving advancements in healthcare.
How we achieve our mission is as important to us as what we achieve. We are committed to building communities and workplaces inclusive and equitable for a diversity of gender, race and expertise, within UNENE and across our network.
To achieve this we are working as a facilitator of collaboration and in partnership with our members and community, not only in nuclear excellence but in people excellence. It is our goal to support and bring out the very best in each person, individually, to achieve the most, collectively.
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UNENE and its university members are committed to fostering a safe, empowering and connective environment for its Indigenous students and school community. UNENE’s university members prioritize their students’ positive learning environment and their student life experience.
To create this positive environment, our universities have created unique and community-driven clubs, programs, scholarships, centres and events for their students.
Many UNENE member universities have engaged and supportive Indigenous student centres, including the University of New Brunswick, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.
Some university members have scholarships and bursaries dedicated to their Indigenous students, like the University of Guelph and Polytechnique Montréal.
Universities like Queen’s University, the University of Toronto and McMaster University have an elder-in-residence or regular elder sessions for Indigenous students to connect with those within their community.
Ongoing events can also provide positive support systems within the school community. Universities such as the University of Waterloo, Ontario Tech and Western University host regular and engaging events for their students.
UNENE universities also have unique programs and services for their Indigenous students. For example, the Royal Military College of Canada has a special advisory board that includes military, civilians, and students who share a common goal of advancing diversity and inclusion efforts at the RMC. Another unique initiative is the University of Windsor‘s discord server, which is made specifically for Indigenous students to connect with each other.
Learn more about our university members’ Indigenous initiatives here.
UNENE’s office is located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement.
UNENE is committed to fostering a positive learning and working environment where everyone feels welcome to contribute their thoughts and ideas and is respected for who they are. Creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment is essential to upholding our mission statement, “Stronger together for Canadian innovation.”
Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) advances innovation and creativity by empowering diverse thoughts, opinions, and research.
UNENE member schools prioritize EDI and ensure a respectful and equitable learning environment. Many of our universities have clubs and programs that encourage and empower diversity in our nuclear programs.
For example, our university members like Ontario Tech, Queen’s University, the University of Waterloo, the University of Saskatchewan, and Western University all have Women in Engineering clubs. These programs support the universities’ women-identifying students and empower the future generation of women to pursue a future in engineering. The clubs hold events and provide a supportive foundation and network for female engineers.
Other universities have innovative and creative ideas for advancing EDI. The University of Toronto created a new role of Assistant Dean and Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Professionalism at U of T Engineering in 2019, which ensures every member of the U of T engineering community is given the ability to study and work in an environment free of bias.
Universities like the Royal Military College of Canada and the University of Guelph have extensive and inclusive policies addressing the underrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples and have created actionable EDI plans to ensure Indigenous students are supported and empowered throughout their studies.
Strategic EDI plans are also an important aspect of ensuring respectful, diverse and bias-free learning environments for all students. Universities like the University of New Brunswick, McMaster University, the University of Windsor, Polytechnique Montréal, and the University of Regina all have EDI action plans in place.
Learn more about our university members’ EDI initiatives here.
UNENE works with several Canadian and international partners to strengthen the value of its program and the programs of its partners to further expand the opportunities and outcomes of collaborative research, education and information exchange.
Below is a short summary of many of our valued partners and the work we do together.
CANDU Owners Group (COG)
Applied Research Agreement (2021)
The 2021 COG and UNENE agreement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2018 that committed to advancing cooperation between the two organizations. The agreement commits to enhancing university collaboration and cooperation in the COG R&D Program. The goal is to raise up opportunities and to strengthen the outcomes of shared industry and university research to meet Canada’s clean energy and sustainability goals and to strengthen the Canadian nuclear sector as a global partner.
The partnership promotes and supports university involvement in industry-focused nuclear science and engineering research through the UNENE Hub, a strategic program initiative to foster collaboration, cooperation and information sharing among and between its utility and university members, industry and government.
European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN)
Memorandum of Understanding (2021)
The partnership between ENEN and UNENE focuses on supporting collaboration in education and training in nuclear science & technology.
The two organizations collaborate to strengthen capacities in teaching and preserve knowledge retention in the nuclear field, provide the nuclear community with highly educated and experienced experts, and establish a transnational network of cooperation among universities and institutions to achieve high-quality training and education.
Collaboration Agreement between International Education Networks (2021)
This agreement outlines a framework for collaboration between the regional and national networks in nuclear education, training, outreach and related research. The three main areas of collaboration are outreach, educational tools and technology, and human resource development.
The most recent agreement is between the following regional networks: the Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (ANENT), the Latin-American Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (LANENT), the African Network for Nuclear Education, Science and Technology (AFRA-NEST), the European Nuclear Education Network Association (ENEN) and the Regional Network for Education and Training in Nuclear Technology (STAR-NET) and the National Networks: BNEN, NTEC and UNENE.
Centre for Canadian Nuclear Sustainability (CCNS)
Community Partner Membership (2020)
UNENE is a community partner of Ontario Power Generation’s CCNS. The two organizations collaborate to leverage Ontario’s vast talents and competencies to advance Canada to a world leader in nuclear decommissioning.
As a community partner, UNENE supports CCNS’ efforts in mobilizing Ontario’s strong nuclear supply chain, advancing solutions for nuclear materials with a continuing emphasis on minimizing its environmental footprint, and collaborating with industry and community members to enhance nuclear innovation solutions.
UNENE universities are also advancing decommissioning knowledge through five research collaborative projects (RCP)s created to strengthen an understanding and execution of nuclear plant decommissioning.
Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII)
Memorandum of Understanding (2020)
As a part of the NII and UNENE Memorandum of Understanding, UNENE is a “friend of NII,” which consists of organizations in the not-for-profit, academic, governmental and non-governmental sectors interested in being engaged and involved with NII.
In this capacity, UNENE agrees to support the organization and to explore opportunities for continued collaboration on initiatives and projects. UNENE may also assist in evaluating potential NII projects.
University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Nuclear Research Centre (ANRC)
Memorandum of Understanding (2020)
The partnership between ANRC and UNENE focuses on the strong areas of common interest between the two organizations and their shared efforts to advance industry and government interests within the nuclear field.
The organizations will collaborate to develop a future joint UNENE/ANRC initiative to establish university-based problem-solving capabilities and mechanisms that support facility operations and maintenance, and to develop collaboration models between nuclear academia, business, industry and the public sector. The partnership will also allow for information exchanges regarding activities and capabilities of university sector members and associates in Canada and the U.K.
Nuclear Cooperation Action Plan: Canada-United Kingdom (2020)
The latest agreement between Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the U.K.’s Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy focuses on advancing collaboration within the role of nuclear energy in combatting climate change, small modular reactor (SMR) development and deployment, and regulatory collaboration.
Within the agreement, UNENE’s deliverables include the creation of a Canadian nuclear university capabilities directory, collaboration with U.K. universities to advance student exchanges and joint projects, development of a collaboration model with ANRC, and collaboration (through a distinct agreement) between UNENE and the U.K.’s Nuclear Technology Education Consortium (NTEC).
Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI)
UNENE is a member of OCNI, which include organizations that support shaping the nuclear supply chain in Canada and abroad.
OCNI is an organization with an indirect interest in the Canadian nuclear industry, such as business alliances, support services, training and educational institutes, and other not-for-profit nuclear adjacent companies.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The collaboration between the IAEA and UNENE aims to support and enhance capacity building and promote nuclear education.
The organizations work together to facilitate the use of nuclear facilities for education, training and capacity building, develop, exchange and disseminate materials, information, knowledge and experience in nuclear education, and to support IAEA and its members in facilitating education, training and outreach within the nuclear field.
UNENE will also participate in and support IAEA’s missions for assessment of human resources and nuclear knowledge management (NKM), education, and nuclear infrastructure.
UNENE, CANDU Owners Group and Ontario Tech will deliver the School of Nuclear Energy Management program in Canada starting in 2022.
Nuclear Technology Education Consortium (NTEC)
NTEC and UNENE are working to share and create educational techniques and methods through their continuing collaboration. The organizations cooperate in curriculum development, use of distance online learning techniques, student and instructor exchanges and joint projects.
This collaboration will generate benefits from shared experiences in teaching methods and curricula, which enables wider experiences for students through student exchanges, visiting lectures and joint seminars and workshops.
Educational topics include nuclear safety, reactor physics, nuclear power instrumentation and control, nuclear fuels and fuels cycles, health physics and radiation protection, and modelling and analysis.