Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators Course
Online 300-hour course in ethics in the academic use of simulators. 6 modules covering ANSI/ANS-10.4 (verification and validation of scientific software), Directive 2009/24/EC (legal protection of computer programs) and Moodle. Personal tutor assigned and enrolment open.
Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators Course — 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 14 900 (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 use of simulators in nuclear engineering teaching.
Apply principles of teaching ethics to the use of simulations.
Interpret the licences, ownership and export control of calculation codes.
Evaluate the validity of academic results obtained with simulators.
Design accessible and inclusive materials based on simulation.
Promote academic integrity in work involving calculation tools.
Develop a responsible academic practice with a simulator.
Who it's for
- Nuclear engineering lecturer wishing to specialise in Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators.
- Instructional designer wishing to specialise in Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators.
- Teaching laboratory manager wishing to specialise in Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators.
- Academic software licence manager wishing to specialise in Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators.
- Digital accessibility technician wishing to specialise in Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators.
- Teaching innovation researcher wishing to specialise in Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter universities.
What you'll work with
- ANSI/ANS-10.4 (verification and validation of scientific software)
- Directive 2009/24/EC (legal protection of computer programs)
- Royal Legislative Decree 1/1996 (Intellectual Property Law)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use items)
- EN 301 549 (accessibility of ICT products and services)
- Directive (EU) 2016/2102 (accessibility of public sector websites)
- WCAG 2.2 (guidelines on web content accessibility)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1IAEA educational simulators: PCTRAN and generic PWR1.2Research reactor simulators1.3System codes in university courses1.4Virtual and remote laboratories1.5Research reactors with remote access1.6Simulation-based learning1.7Learning objectives and curriculum design1.8Pedagogical limitations of simulators1.9Comparison with real practicals1.10Case study: integrating a simulator into a course
2.1Honesty about simulator fidelity2.2Avoiding false certainties in students2.3Critical thinking versus the black box2.4Equity of access to resources2.5Fair assessment in simulated environments2.6Plagiarism and copying of simulation results2.7Students' use of generative AI2.8Academic integrity in virtual practicals2.9Lecturer responsibility2.10Workshop: an ethical rubric for a simulator-based practical
3.1Academic licences for nuclear codes3.2Distribution of codes through RSICC and the NEA Data Bank3.3Export control of nuclear software3.4Compliance with licence agreements3.5Open-source software: OpenMC and MOOSE3.6Proprietary design data3.7International students and restrictions3.8Commercial use of academic licences3.9Institutional responsibility3.10Practical: reviewing an academic licence agreement
4.1Model verification in bachelor's final projects4.2Use outside the range of validity4.3Communicating uncertainties in theses4.4Reproducibility of simulations4.5Documenting inputs and versions4.6Student results in publications4.7Common errors of novice users4.8Internal peer review4.9Sensitive data in academic work4.10Case study: reviewing a Master's thesis with doubtful results
5.1Accessibility of simulation interfaces5.2Digital divide and computing resources5.3Teaching in countries without reactors5.4ENEN and IAEA educational programmes5.5Gender perspective in nuclear teaching5.6Student wellbeing in accident simulations5.7Sustainability of intensive computing5.8Collaboration with industry5.9Teacher training5.10Workshop: an accessibility plan for a virtual laboratory
6.1Defining learning objectives6.2Selecting the simulator and licences6.3Designing the practical6.4Analysis of limitations and fidelity6.5Assessment criteria and integrity6.6Accessibility measures6.7Ethical review of the proposal6.8Summary of conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100 % online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Moodle, OpenMC, IAEA Basic Principles simulators, Python (Jupyter), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are drawn from real procedures for designing teaching practicals with a simulator, reviewing licences for calculation codes and assessing the accessibility of materials. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the use of simulators in nuclear engineering teaching.
Apply principles of teaching ethics to the use of simulations.
Interpret the licences, ownership and export control of calculation codes.
Evaluate the validity of academic results obtained with simulators.
Design accessible and inclusive materials based on simulation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- A sufficient level of Spanish to follow 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 between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
We work with Moodle, OpenMC, IAEA Basic Principles simulators, Python (Jupyter). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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