Intakes: Every September 

Philosophy
To promote globally competitive quality education and training in peaceful applications of nuclear science techniques and associated technologies. The program is designed to enhance multidiscipline research capacity towards building a knowledgeable resource base for sustainable development in line with the aspirations of Kenyans as pronounced in the short and long-term strategic plans of the country and the University of Nairobi.

Rationale
Peaceful use of nuclear science transcends across all economic and socioeconomic activities, especially in energy, environment, food and agriculture, health, industry and water. It also includes applications in security and safety. Science is an important aspect in sustainable development considering the pioneer applications of X-rays were radiography and crystallography in the 1920s and the methods delivered the tangible medical diagnostics and the elemental table, respectively, and they continue to pray a major role in medical services, material science research, micro and macro-nutrients investigation in agriculture and infrastructure among many other services. The wide range of applications are well established in the North where they have developed a strong human resource base and provided high investments in infrastructure. In Africa, although the techniques were appreciated since the late 1950s, the human resource base remains weak in the midst of the high demand by the governments and private sector. However, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been assisting its member states directly in Country Specific Projects and through the African Regional Co-operative Agreement (AFRA) for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology which was inaugurated in 1990 and has a membership of 45 African Member States of IAEA. The presented reviewed programme is therefore important to Kenya as well as the region. 
Kenya Government realised the necessity and importance of nuclear Science applications reasonably early and it became a member of AFRA at its inception in 1990. It established organisations to promote the peaceful use of ionising radiation and the protection of human from harm. The organisations are: Radiation Protection Board (RPB) under the Ministry of Health, and a coordination office of Nuclear applications related programs and IAEA liaison in the then National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), currently National Commission of Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)) under the Ministry of
Education. More than 10 years ago the government realised energy was a key enabler of Vision2030 implementation and immediately established a Nuclear Electricity Committee under the Ministry of Energy. The Committee has since transformed to the current Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) with a mandate of IAEA National Liaison Office, while AFRA coordinating mandate remains in NACOSTI. In all these organisations human resource in nuclear science applications is identified as a major challenge in the country and the issue occupies space in their stakeholder’s meetings and private discussions between the heads of the organisations and the director, INST. As late as last year, the challenge was a
serious discussion in a preparation meeting to guide conference participation of Kenya delegates to the 63rd IAEA General Conference of the Member States. The meeting was chaired by the ambassador at the Kenya Embassy in Vienna, Austria, and the attending delegates were from the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenyatta University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, NACOSTI, National Assembly, National Research Fund, NuPEA, Pwani University and RPB. In all the forums of key stakeholders in nuclear science education, that INST has had an opportunity to be present, the need for Kenya to have a strong knowledgeable human resource base to support sustainable development was always highly articulated. This was also well pronounced in the various stakeholder meetings on INST planned and review programmes. The meetings also highlighted the critical importance of nuclear science applications in the implementation of Kenya’s long-term Strategic Plan (Vision2030) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Goal/Objective
The goal of this programme is to enable learners to assimilate knowledge and acquire competency in current and evolving technologies in peaceful applications of nuclear and associated science techniques in research. Thus, contributing to the development of research capacity and a knowledgeable human resource for sustainable economic and socioeconomic development.

Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the programme, the learner should be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of radiation techniques in the investigation of problems affecting  society and development.
2. Illustrate the ability to disseminate scientific knowledge to stakeholders and policymakers.
3. Demonstrate the potential to specialize in the field of nuclear energy production.
4. Produce innovations using nuclear science and associated technologies for the benefit of society.