The Nuclear Security and Safeguards Education Portal (NSSEP): Online Safeguards Education Resources at Texas A&M University

In 2009, the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) created a series of online training modules intended to introduce individuals with backgrounds in various policy and technical fields to the fundamentals underpinning research in nuclear safeguards, security, and nonproliferation. These initial modules in nuclear science and technology formed the foundational core of the offerings on the Nuclear Security and Safeguards Education Portal (NSSEP), which was expanded to 14 online course modules and three reference modules. Covering a wide spectrum of topics, NSSEP course modules include the following: basic nuclear and atomic physics; the commercial nuclear fuel cycle; basic radiation detection; introduction to statistics; introduction to nuclear safeguards and security; containment and surveillance; nuclear material accountancy; spent nuclear fuel safeguards; uranium enrichment safeguards; threats to nuclear security; nuclear security culture; physical protection systems; insider threats; and applied statistics for safeguards. The three reference modules include modules on nuclear security terminology, nuclear safeguards terminology, and safeguards treaties and legal issues. NSSPI also leveraged the content of the NSSEP modules to create two professional certificate programs: the Professional Certificate in Nuclear Safeguards Fundamentals and the Professional Certificate in Nuclear Security Fundamentals. Free and open to the public, NSSEP modules present nuclear security and safeguards topics in an accessible way using a blend of text, figures, images, videos, and assessments. The course modules are intended to take from 1-4 hours each to complete, and users can complete the modules at their own pace. In the period since 2017, when NSSPI/TAMU first began creating distinct accounts for each user, NSSEP has served approximately 2700 unique users enrolling in a total of over 7900 NSSEP courses, with completion of those courses (earning 100% on all internal assessments) being roughly half. NSSEP users hail from over 100 different countries around the world. The endorsement of organizations like the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management and Consolidated Nuclear Security, both of which have used NSSEP as part of training initiatives, gives evidence of the quality of the modules. This online platform has enabled unprecedented outreach, surpassing traditional non-internet-based methods.