Japan's experience in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on NSSC operations

Inoue, Naoko 

ISCN/JAEA has conducted roughly 20 trainings/workshops with 500 participants every year, for capacity building support for nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear security since its establishment in December 2010. In 2020, four trainings for Asian countries were postponed because of the restriction of overseas travels and entry into Japan by COVID-19. ISCN/JAEA decided to develop the online trainings of two major ones, Physical Protection regional training and State System of Nuclear Material Accountancy for and Control for IAEA safeguards, in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The period of two weeks as in-person trainings are maintained as online ones. It consists of the interactive modules using a web meeting tool, Zoom meeting, and E-learning (self-learning) modules. Breakout function is used for the sub-group exercises which part of the interactive modules. Number of knowledge and lesson learned were obtained through the development and implementation of the online training as well as many challenges were identified. The online trainings are not just a mitigation measure against COVID-19, but they are the opportunities for development of new trainings. ISCN/JAEA will address further in expanding the new training menu cased on the experiences.