Nuke curriculum for schools eyed

The Philippines is partnering with Saskatchewan, Canada, to develop a nuclear-ready workforce and upgrade local institutions, placing Filipino talent at the center of the country’s clean energy transition.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said both countries agreed to develop localized Nuclear Engineering and Safety Management curricula with the Commission on Higher Education and Saskatchewan institutions. 

The plan also includes specialized Train-the-Trainer programs for Philippine educators and micro-credentialing for skilled workers in nuclear and clean energy fields under Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“A nuclear program is only as strong as the people and institutions behind it.

This cooperation with Saskatchewan helps us build the skills pipeline and academic partnerships we need from engineering and safety management to technical training and micro-credentials while reinforcing the standards and public engagement required for responsible energy development,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said.

Canadian Minister Ken Cheveldayoff, meanwhile, cited the role of human capital in energy transition. 

“A skilled workforce is essential for long-term sustainability,” he said, noting that the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the Global Institute for Energy, Minerals and Society are supporting collaboration among academia, government, industry, and Indigenous groups.

The DOE said the partnership builds on other international efforts to prepare local institutions and workers for emerging clean energy and civil nuclear sectors, including a recent U.S.-Philippines memorandum of understanding on vocational and higher education pathways for the nuclear industry. 

In June last year, the Philippines and Canada signed a separate memorandum of understanding covering Small Modular Reactors, carbon capture, smart grids, renewable integration, and the repurposing of aging coal plants. 

The two countries have agreed to continue coordination through the Joint Working Group to set deliverables and timelines for the next phase of cooperation.