Development of a Training Course on Nondestructive Assay of Nuclear Material for the
Asian Region

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), in cooperation with United States, Los Alamos National Laboratory (US/LANL), the European Commission, Joint Research Center (EC/JRC), and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Regional Office in Tokyo (IAEA/TRO), has developed a "Regional Training Course on Nondestructive Assay of Nuclear Material (NDA Course)" for the Asian region. The target of this course is persons in charge of safeguards and nuclear material accountancy. The first NDA Course was successfully conducted at the JAEA in 2022. The newly developed curriculum for the Asian region includes 1) e-learning modules of gamma-ray physics; 2) lectures and exercises on gamma-ray measurement and neutron coincidence counting; and 3) practical demonstrations of NDA use. E-learning modules were completed in advance by the participants to maximize the opportunities of the hands-on exercises. The NDA demonstration was held at the JAEA JRR-3 research reactor and included demonstrations of the equipment used for spent fuel verification. A site visit to the JAEA Clean Laboratory for Environmental Analysis and Research (CLEAR) facility was also conducted. This paper first reports on the curriculum development, which was based on a needs assessment, and the sharing of experiences regarding the NDA course from EC/JRC and US/LANL. The development of the training material and laboratory exercises are then explained. Finally, implementation and feedback from participants are summarized.