Strengthen nuclear expertise
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is Western Canada’s exclusive provider of University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) short courses.
UNENE’s two-day short courses deliver focused, high-impact learning in key areas of nuclear science and engineering. Designed for both UNENE graduate students and nuclear industry professionals, these sessions are a fast, practical way to refresh your knowledge or dive deeper into specialized topics.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen technical skills, stay current with industry practices,
or gain insights from experienced instructors, these courses are tailored for real-world
application—not just theory.
Courses and registration
CANDU Design
This two-day course provides a high-level overview of CANDU reactor design, including reactor core physics, fuel design and manufacturing, thermal hydraulics of heat transport systems, and nuclear safety approaches and systems.
It introduces the key scientific principles, engineering systems, and design considerations that underpin CANDU reactor operation including:
- Evolution and overview of CANDU reactors in Canada and internationally.
- Reactor physics fundamentals including reactivity, neutron behavior, and lattice design.
- Heat transport system design including fuel channels, steam generators, and system components.
- Fuel cycle, fuel bundle design, and manufacturing processes.
- Safety systems including shutdown systems, emergency cooling, and containment.
- Operational phenomena such as xenon effects, burnup, and accident scenarios.
Participants who complete the CANDU Design course will:
- Understand the basic science concepts related to the fission chain reaction and its application in reactor design.
- Learn about materials used in CANDU design and the reasoning behind their selection.
- Identify major equipment used in CANDU systems.
- Understand fuel bundle design, manufacturing, and failure modes.
- Gain insight into thermal-hydraulics design and key phenomena in heat transport systems.
- Understand nuclear safety principles and the design and operation of special safety systems.
There are no confirmed dates available for this course. To be notified of upcoming dates as soon as they are available, please email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca
Nuclear Power Plant Operations
This two-day course presents a condensed overview of nuclear power plant systems and operations. It focuses on the functional relationships between plant systems and their role in safe and efficient operation including:
- Nuclear power plant fundamentals and energy generation.
- CANDU design features and safety considerations.
- Major plant processes, systems, and computer programs.
- Reactor regulating systems and xenon effects.
- Heat transport system pressure and inventory control.
- Steam cycle and plant operating modes.
- Detector systems and power measurement.
- Simulator-based demonstration of plant behavior.
Participants who complete the Nuclear Power Plant Operations course will:
- Understand overall unit operation and control.
- Describe the functions and operation of major plant systems.
- Understand control mechanisms for key plant processes.
- Analyze the interaction and coordination of systems for safe operation.
There are no confirmed dates available for this course. To be notified of upcoming dates as soon as they are available, please email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca
Nuclear Fuel Engineering
This two-day course provides a high-level overview of nuclear fuel engineering, covering the full fuel lifecycle from design and manufacturing to in-reactor performance and disposal. It introduces key concepts related to fuel behavior under normal and accident conditions including:
- Nuclear fuel cycle stages and processes.
- Fuel design, components, and manufacturing.
- Fuel performance and thermo-mechanical behavior.
- Failure modes and effects analysis.
- Fuel behavior under accident conditions.
- Advanced fuels including SMR and Gen IV concepts.
- Spent fuel storage and disposal.
Participants who complete the Nuclear Fuel Engineering course will:
- Understand key phenomena affecting fuel behavior during operation.
- Identify common fuel failure mechanisms and mitigation strategies.
- Apply lessons learned from operational experience (OPEX).
- Compare fuel behavior across different reactor types and technologies.
There are no confirmed dates available for this course. To be notified of upcoming dates as soon as they are available, please email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca
Our Nuclear Skills Training portfolio
Sask Polytech has partnered with multiple nuclear sector organizations to deliver a complete portfolio of training opportunities to meet the needs of professionals at any stage of their career:
- Explore the nuclear sector with National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN)
- Transition into the nuclear sector with Ontario Tech University (OTU)
