The seven agencies are: the Hanoi Polytechnic University, the Hanoi-based and HCM City-based universities for natural sciences, the Electricity University, Da Lat University, the Vietnam Atomic Power Institute, and the Institute of Physics.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien said human resource training for the nuclear power industry is critical, and needs to be begun as soon as possible. Vietnam aims to have sufficient human resources for its first nuclear power plant.

There are four universities in Vietnam which have nuclear energy faculties. However, the Vietnam Atomic Power Institute said that the curriculums for these universities don’t meet requirements for nuclear technology and safety training.

According to experts, preparation of human resources for the nuclear power industry must be implemented early, tens of years before the first nuclear power plant becomes operational.

It is estimated that this plant will need around 450 experts. Vietnam currently has 600 people who are working in nuclear-related fields, mainly in non-energy application areas, all of whom are of advanced age.