Education & Training In Fusion

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Education & Training In Fusion

Introduction

Before presenting our plan in this area, we note that education and training in plasma science and fusion energy are currently underdeveloped in universities and research centers across the Arab world. Courses on plasma science are rarely offered, and fusion energy programs and conferences are even more scarce. The few existing courses are often isolated from related disciplines, despite the inherently multidisciplinary nature of fusion research. Furthermore, there are no high-level training opportunities available for engineers and technicians in this critical field.

To address these challenges, the AFEI plans to engage with universities to prioritize the recruitment of professors specializing in plasma physics and fusion energy engineering. A key objective of this initiative is to develop dedicated courses for students interested in these fields, working closely with universities to determine the most effective implementation strategies. Additionally, organizing conferences and summer schools focused on plasma and fusion topics is crucial for raising the level of knowledge in this area and fostering collaborations. Below, we outline a few action items we intend to pursue.

The AFEI will work on building a website and continuously updating it dedicated to Arab students. We will explain and include information about the different opportunities.

MS Scholarship Program

Currently, several Masters programs exist worldwide[1-7]. In order to benefit from these programs, and thus allow Arab students to initiate their apprenticeship in the field of fusion, the AFEI will be launching an MS Scholarship Program for Arab students wishing to pursue their studies at Arab or non-Arab institutions. This program will fund a two-year Master's degree, covering tuition, living expenses, and travel costs.

The selection process will be done by the sub-committee on a merit basis. Students will be asked to submit their university records along with letters of recommendation and a letter of motivation.

The estimated annual cost per student is $40,000 for the full period of two years.

PhD Scholarship Program

The Scholarship Program will also support Arab students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. at Arab or non-Arab institutions. Applicants will need to submit their resumes, grades, and supporting documentation. Attendance or/and contribution to the summer school will be an additional benefit for Ph.D. students. The program will fund three-year PhDs, covering tuition, living expenses, and travel costs. The estimated annual cost per student is about $75,000 for the three years.

Arab Summer Fusion School

The AFEI plans to establish the Arab Fusion Summer School, focusing on the science of plasma physics and fusion energy. This annual event will last two weeks and will be conducted in English. The acceptance would be conditional on an English test, a priority will be given to the Associated Institutions, which should write a support letter explaining the student's plans to pursue his/her Master's or Ph.D. in the fields of plasma physics and fusion energy. Moreover, students will be asked to write an essay on their motivations for attending this school.

The curriculum will cover a range of topics, including plasma physics, fusion, tokamak geometry, plasma-facing components, sputtering, heat fluxes, radiation losses, confinement, turbulence, instabilities, disruption mitigation, plasma heating methods, magnetic field generation, and fusion-related issues like neutron ash, tritium breeding, and blanket design.

The school will cover all financial support for students and invited professors, with an estimated cost of $70,000. A dedicated website will be designed to host the lectures and videos and a follow-up will be conducted for the attending students.

Fusion Professional School

The Fusion Professional School will cater to engineers and technicians, focusing on the construction, operation, and maintenance of fusion devices. This hands-on training school will accommodate about twenty participants annually, with full coverage provided for attendees.

The primary language will be English, with explanations in Arabic or French.

The program will include practical experiments and topics such as plasma physics, fusion environment, safety measures, vacuum technology, magnetic field generation, cooling technology, neutral beam generation, and radio-frequency wave generation.

The total cost is estimated at $50,000 per year, with an additional $10,000 for teaching-related equipment dedicated to the host institution.