Vietnam Accelerates Workforce Development for Nuclear Power Program

Vietnam is accelerating the development of its workforce for its nuclear power program, driven by a series of policies from the Party, the National Assembly, and the Government to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project. The growing demand for highly qualified personnel is a direct consequence of these initiatives. According to the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Ministry of Science and Technology, human resources will play a decisive role in ensuring the successful and timely implementation of the country's nuclear power program. Vietnam's Strategy for the Peaceful Development and Application of Atomic Energy to 2035, with a vision to 2050, expects nuclear power to constitute 6–8 percent of the nation's total electricity mix. This strategy envisages the construction of four large-scale nuclear power units and between 10 and 15 small modular reactors (SMRs), underscoring the need for internationally trained professionals across the nuclear value chain. Nguyen Hoang Linh, Director General of the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, stated that the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plants alone will require approximately 3,900 personnel for direct operation by 2030, including about 670 university graduates who will undergo overseas training. Beyond plant operations, the sector requires specialists in state management, nuclear safety and security regulation, research and development, technical support, education and training, nuclear medicine, radiation technology, radioactive waste management, emergency response, environmental monitoring, and industrial and agricultural applications. Experts emphasize that developing nuclear power involves building a comprehensive ecosystem supported by highly skilled professionals capable of meeting international standards. To prepare the workforce, the Government has approved a national program for training and developing human resources for nuclear power through 2035, while also strengthening personnel engaged in state management, research, applications, and technical support in the atomic energy sector. The Government is also enhancing the capacity of key regulatory agencies, such as the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, to meet the demands of the country's new phase of nuclear development. Specialists have stressed that human resource development is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of Vietnam's nuclear program. They have called for closer cooperation among government agencies, universities, research institutes, enterprises, and international partners to establish an integrated training ecosystem. They also suggested concentrating government resources on five or six key universities and training institutions, rather than spreading investment across a larger network, to improve training quality and optimize investment efficiency, thereby gradually strengthening the country's domestic nuclear expertise. Educational institutions are encouraged to update their curricula in line with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines and expand specialized engineering programs to meet the needs of the modern nuclear industry. Professor Nguyen Quoc Sy from the National Research University "Moscow Power Engineering Institute" in Russia proposed that joint faculty programs with international partners could help Vietnam establish internationally aligned training standards while bolstering teaching capacity, academic exchanges, and research cooperation. Experts also recommended balancing overseas education with the development of domestic training capacity to ensure access to advanced technologies while building a sustainable, highly qualified workforce at home.