The Australian National University (ANU) and Charles Sturt University, in partnership with the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), have announced the design and delivery of Australia’s first tertiary qualification program in non-proliferation nuclear safeguards.

This program will be designed to strengthen and uplift nuclear safeguards expertise in a complex world. The program will educate and credential professionals with backgrounds ranging from science and engineering through to law, public policy, and social science to apply and strengthen International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

The program will develop:

• new graduate qualifications in non-proliferation nuclear safeguards and security;
• world-class courses in nuclear safeguards frameworks and professional practice; and
• open-source resources for professionals and academics in Australia and our region specialising in non-proliferation nuclear safeguards.

The program leverages ASNO’s expertise and 50 years of experience safeguarding Australia's nuclear activities. It draws on the interdisciplinary capabilities of the ANU School of Regulation and Governance (RegNet) and its commitment to solving society’s most pressing problems and from CSU’s extensive experience in quality online education for the professions and an institutional commitment to create a safe and secure world.

The partners acknowledge grant funding from ASNO’s Verify program (AUD 877,000) to build this capability, as well as co-contributions from the university partners.

Partners

The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) works to enhance Australia’s domestic and international security through:

• Upholding Australia’s international non-proliferation commitments through robust domestic regulation
• Supporting regional non-proliferation implementation
• Shaping and strengthening the global non-proliferation and disarmament verification mechanisms.

ASNO is a unique office as it administers responsibilities of a domestic regulation and the role of the national authority for Australia’s international non-proliferation treaties.  Other core functions of ASNO include providing expert advice to government, nuclear safeguards research and development activities, and supporting non-proliferation treaty implementation across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

ANU is Australia’s national university and plays a critical role in generating and integrating the inquiry, knowledge and debate needed for effective stewardship of nuclear materials and technologies. The nuclear safeguards program is led by the ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) and benefits from the expertise of colleagues in nuclear physics, engineering, international relations, and law.

Charles Sturt University is a leading regional university with a long-standing reputation for excellence in online education. As part of its commitment to meeting national priorities, Charles Sturt University plays a pivotal role in building Australia's nuclear safeguards capability, offering specialised capability development and qualifications in nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. This program will be led by the Physics and Nuclear Science Discipline in Faculty of Science and Health, delivering nuclear science education and workforce readiness for a wide range of professional sectors.

The Charles Sturt University Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic (DVCA), Prof Graham Brown, enthusiastically supports the partnership; “Charles Sturt has actively built strong industry and Government relationships to ensure our nuclear education is industry-aligned. Together, Charles Sturt University and ANU offer complementary knowledge and expertise and will work well together to deliver on the requirements of this program to ensure students get the very best learning outcomes from our courses.”

The ANU Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof Ann Evans is also optimistic about the partnership and program; “We are enthusiastic about this opportunity to work with ASNO and with Charles Sturt University on this important national endeavour which brings together our leading experts in regulation and governance, law and nuclear physics.”

ASNO Director General, Dr Geoffrey Shaw, said: “This first of its kind program in Australia will ensure continuing sovereign expertise in nuclear safeguards, develop a highly skilled pipeline of candidates that can meet future workforce requirements, and help ensure Australia can effectively enhance the global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture.”