Two students on the MSc Nuclear Science and Engineering programme undertook a week-long exchange at the Material Ageing Institute (MAI), EDF Lab Les Renardières, Paris in early 2018.
The students, Rachael Matthews and Tianyi Li, are part of the South West Nuclear Hub which has a three-year training agreement with the EDF Materials Ageing Institute.
Student Perspective from Tianyi Li
“I applied for this opportunity because I thought it would provide a great opportunity to network and to further develop my commercial awareness of the nuclear energy sector.
In addition, I am now motivated to learn French as my third language, because I realised how important the role France plays is in the international nuclear sector.
I would recommend this opportunity to future students; at the end of the day, if nothing was taken away, the experiences are valuable. There is nothing to lose in my opinion".
A full account of the exchange by Tianyi Li can be found on the South West Nuclear Hub website.
Feedback from the MAI
Hing Ip Wong, Director of the MAI, said:
“MAI was very proud to welcome for the first time two students from Bristol. The feedback from students and MAI lecturers was excellent. By opening the course to Bristol’s students, we are enriching MAI with high level participants. I'm looking forward to welcoming the next exchange from Bristol”.
South West Nuclear Hub and the EDF Materials Ageing Institute Partnership
Every year, two or more students will be offered the opportunity to go to the MAI for a week to receive high-end nuclear training. This will be delivered by both academics and industrial stakeholders such as EDF or the French Regulatory Authority.
Courses are taught in English, and students attend the course alongside MSc students from the Grenoble’s Institut Nationale de Physique.
More information on this agreement can be found here: https://southwestnuclearhub.ac.uk/teaching/international-opportunities/