Course on Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear
Online course of 300 h in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear. 6 modules covering ICRP 138 (ethical foundations of radiological protection), IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection and safety of radiation sources) and ROS 2. Dedicated tutor and enrolment open.
Course on Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear — studying from South Africa
South Africa is one of the few African countries with an operating nuclear power programme, centred on the Koeberg power station near Cape Town, operated by Eskom. The country also has nuclear research and fuel cycle activity through the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, known as Necsa, based at Pelindaba near Pretoria. Nuclear engineers work on reactor operation, safety, fuel management and decommissioning. The National Nuclear Regulator is the independent authority that licenses and oversees nuclear activities.
Fees for South Africa: R 13 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Nuclear activities in South Africa are regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), and professional registration runs through ECSA. Acceptance of a private qualification in this regulated field rests with employers or the relevant authority, so verify before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in nuclear engineering?
Nuclear employers, including Eskom and specialist contractors, typically require formally recognised qualifications, security clearances and regulatory competence. A private SEIUM qualification may add background knowledge but is unlikely to meet formal requirements on its own. Discuss this with employers in the nuclear sector to understand how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the applications of robots in the nuclear industry.
Apply ethical frameworks to robotic deployment decisions.
Relate the use of robots to the justification and optimisation of radiation protection.
Evaluate criteria for procuring and deploying robotic systems.
Analyse the social and environmental impact of using robots.
Assess the transparency and functional safety of autonomous systems.
Produce an ethical assessment of a real robotic deployment.
Who it's for
- Nuclear robotics engineer looking to specialise in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear.
- Radiation protection technician looking to specialise in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear.
- Technology procurement manager looking to specialise in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear.
- Functional safety analyst looking to specialise in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear.
- Nuclear innovation project manager looking to specialise in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear.
- Technology ethics consultant looking to specialise in Ethics in the Use of Robots in Nuclear.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into nuclear power generation.
What you'll work with
- ICRP 138 (ethical foundations of radiological protection)
- IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection and safety of radiation sources)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards)
- ISO 12100 (safety of machinery, risk assessment)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety)
- IEEE 7001-2021 (transparency of autonomous systems)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Inventory of nuclear robotic applications1.2Steam generator inspection robots1.3Vehicles for reactor vessel inspection1.4Robotics in decommissioning: Sellafield and Fukushima1.5Radiological emergency response robots1.6Remote handling in reprocessing1.7Robotics at ITER and in fusion1.8Suppliers and the technology ecosystem1.9The evolution from teleoperation to autonomy1.10Case study: deciding to introduce an inspection robot
2.1Engineering ethics and professional codes2.2Roboethics: the proposals of Veruggio and Asimov2.3EU principles for trustworthy AI2.4Hansson's ethics of risk2.5Justification, optimisation and dose limitation2.6The ethics of precaution and of innovation2.7Responsibility of the designer and the operator2.8The ethics of care applied to safety2.9Conflicting values in robotic decisions2.10Workshop: values analysis of a robotic deployment
3.1ALARA and dose reduction through robotisation3.2Collective dose avoided as an ethical argument3.3Dose received when recovering failed robots3.4Waste generated by contaminated robots3.5Decontamination and end of life of the robot3.6Comparing human and robotic risks3.7Cost-benefit analysis of protection3.8Conventional versus radiological risks3.9Residual risk and acceptability3.10Practice: dose balance of a robotic intervention
4.1Needs and alternatives assessment4.2Ethical criteria in public procurement4.3Technology readiness level (TRL) and deployment risk4.4Testing on mock-ups and inactive environments4.5Organisational change management4.6Acceptance by the workforce4.7Physical security of robotic systems4.8Dual use and export control4.9Transparency with the regulator4.10Case study: selecting a robot for decommissioning
5.1Public communication on the use of robots5.2Social expectations and techno-optimism5.3Robots in emergencies and support to the public5.4Environmental impact of robot manufacturing5.5Sustainability and circularity of equipment5.6International cooperation in nuclear robotics5.7University-industry collaboration5.8Equitable access to robotic technologies5.9Research ethics with robots5.10Workshop: an ethical guide to robotic deployment
6.1Selecting the nuclear application6.2Technical description of the system6.3Analysis of radiological benefits6.4Identification of risks and impacts6.5Multi-criteria ethical assessment6.6Deployment plan and safeguards6.7Final recommendations6.8Summary of conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The software used is ROS 2, Gazebo, VISIPLAN 3D ALARA, MATLAB Robotics System Toolbox, in free, academic or trial versions. Testing is studied through real procedures from assessment of a robotic deployment in a radiological area, justification analysis and dose optimisation, case studies of robots at Fukushima Daiichi. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus a final capstone project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the applications of robots in the nuclear industry.
Apply ethical frameworks to robotic deployment decisions.
Relate the use of robots to the justification and optimisation of radiation protection.
Evaluate criteria for procuring and deploying robotic systems.
Analyse the social and environmental impact of using robots.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- A level of English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with ROS 2, Gazebo, VISIPLAN 3D ALARA, MATLAB Robotics System Toolbox. Free, academic or trial versions are used, and your tutor will point out a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the capstone project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state-accredited degree.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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