Education & training: grueling conditioning for lifetime learning

Article Abstract:

East Asian countries take education very seriously, subjecting engineering and other students to a regimented but supportive educational environment. Young students are encouraged to study science and technology from a very early age; 25 percent of the class time of elementary school students in Japan is devoted to mathematics and science, and this is often augmented by many parents with time spent at private cram schools, or juku. The result of the early emphasis on science and mathematics is that engineering students are able to relax a bit once they enter engineering school. Perspective employers prefer that they not specialize so that they can be provided with on-the-job training in whatever specialty is required. The demand for technical and professional graduates exceeds supply, which has benefited Japanese women. Technical education in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other East Asian countries is described.

ELECTRONIC & OTHER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT, Colleges and universities, Taiwan, Japan, Engineering, Singapore, Education, Hong Kong, Korea, South, Electronic Industry, Trends, Asia

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Nuclear weapons reactors: too hot to handle?

Article Abstract:

Nuclear experts outside the US Department of Energy, after the USSR Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster, were allowed to inspect US defense reactors. Those experts found the risks of operating defense reactor plants to be poorly understood. The experts urged probabilistic risk analysis be conducted, as in the commercial industry. Problems came up at the Savannah River nuclear weapons plant in Aiken, SC before the analyses were completed. In Aug 1988, during an attempted start-up of the P reactor, operators continued operation in spite of anomalies such as improper control rod motion, low core activity and a power spike. The Department of Energy shut down the operation in order to conduct an investigation. It was found that operators followed procedures without questioning discrepancies.

Regulation, admin. of utilities, Safety and security measures, Investigations, Risk management, Nuclear power plants, United States. Department of Energy, Nuclear weapons, Human Factors, Disaster Management, Risk Analysis, Savannah River Plant

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