NEA International Mentoring Workshop in Romania

Call for Canadian Students | Inspiring the Next Generation of Nuclear Leaders
We are pleased to support the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in identifying five Canadian students, aged 15–17, to participate in the NEA International Mentoring Workshop, taking place September 23–25, 2026, in Bucharest, Romania.
 
Thanks to funding from the Government of Canada, participation for the five Canadian students will be fully covered, making this an exceptional opportunity for young Canadians interested in STEM and nuclear energy to gain international exposure.
 
The Canadian students will join approximately 40 students from Romania and Bulgaria for three days of learning, mentorship, and international exchange focused on STEM, nuclear energy, leadership, and future career opportunities.
 
Participants will have the opportunity to:
 
  • Engage directly with senior nuclear experts and international mentors
  • Explore educational and career opportunities across science, technology, engineering, and nuclear energy
  • Participate in interactive mentoring and leadership sessions
  • Connect with students from Romania and Bulgaria who share an interest in STEM
  • Visit the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, home to two operating Canadian-designed CANDU 6 reactors, offering a unique opportunity to see Canadian nuclear technology at work internationally
 
For Canadian students, this is a particularly meaningful opportunity to learn alongside international peers, engage with leaders from the global nuclear community, and see firsthand how Canadian nuclear technology has become part of another country’s energy infrastructure.
 
Organized by the NEA in partnership with the Romanian Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency (ANDR), the workshop builds on a successful international mentoring program that has helped young participants strengthen their confidence, leadership skills, international networks, and interest in STEM and nuclear-related careers.
 
At a time when Canada and countries around the world are expanding their nuclear ambitions, developing the next generation of talent will be just as important as developing the technologies and projects themselves.
 
CASMR and the SMR Forum are pleased to support the NEA in extending this opportunity to young Canadians, and we are now seeking expressions of interest from students aged 15–17 with a strong interest in STEM and nuclear energy.
 
📍  Bucharest & Cernavodă, Romania
📅   September 23–25, 2026
🎓   Age: 15–17
🇨🇦   Five Canadian students
✈️   Fully funded participation
🌐  Working language: English
 
 

Students from all Canadian provinces and territories are encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit the following:

  1. A one-page self-introduction or CV, including a photograph and a brief description of the student’s background, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, interests, and future aspirations.
    Applicants should also indicate whether they currently hold a valid passport. Given the short timeline and the international travel involved, it is particularly important that applicants have a passport with at least six months’ validity remaining beyond the planned travel dates. Applicants who do not currently meet this requirement should clearly indicate whether they are in a position to obtain or renew their passport promptly.
  2. A short essay of up to 500 words explaining:

     

    • Why they would like to participate in the workshop;
    • Their interest in STEM and the nuclear energy sector;
    • What they hope to learn from the mentors and other participants; and
    • How the experience could support their educational and career goals.

Applications should be submitted to info@smr-forum.ca by August 28,2026

Selection Process

CASMR will review the applications and pre-select the Canadian candidates in coordination with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to attend a brief online interview.

Selected students and their parents or legal guardians will subsequently receive further information regarding:

  • Travel and accommodation;
  • Chaperone arrangements;
  • Required parental/legal guardian consent, passport, and travel documentation;
  • Workshop preparation; and
  • Participation in the technical visit to the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.
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