Changing face-to-face to online radiation protection training: experiences of trainers and trainees.

The SCK CEN Academy for Nuclear Science and Technology functions as the umbrella structure coordinating the education and training activities of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN). One of the main activities of the SCK CEN Academy is to provide customised training to professionals working in the nuclear industry, healthcare, research or governmental institutions. The courses and practical sessions are usually given in a face-to-face (FTF) format.

The young generation in radiation protection (IRPA YGN) in social media and online learning: 'Brave New World' or 'Online Nightmare'?

While online working seems to have become more common since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, social media has the potential to offer greater interactivity and networking capacities. Thus it seems relevant for the IRPA Young Generation Network to investigate the use of social media by members of the young generation in radiation protection (RP) through an online survey. It was also the opportunity to collect early feedback about on-line learning.

Comparing the effectiveness of learning formats in radiation protection.

At the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) more than 850 employees advance the peaceful applications of ionising radiation through research, services and education and training. Several initiatives are taken to guarantee a safe working environment, one of them being a compulsory introductory safety training for all new employees, followed by refresher courses. With the objective to increase the flexibility for the participants and to optimise the teaching time of lecturers, the training format is adapted from face-to-face training to blended learning in which a significant amount of online learning is introduced.

Basic radiation protection training for nurses and paramedical personnel: Belgian experience and future perspectives.

When using ionising radiation for medical diagnosis or treatment of patients, understanding of relevant radiation protection principles and issues is indispensable. In Belgium, nurses and paramedical staff are required to acquire knowledge for protecting the patient against the detrimental effects of ionising radiation by means of a vocational training course. The experience with and challenges for this training course are presented here from a lecturer's point of view, together with a proposal for a future approach that harmonises the training content, its level and quality, according to European recommended standards.

Implementation of acceptability criteria for dental radiology in Belgium.

The implementation of routine quality control (QC) tests in dental radiology in Belgium has been neglected for many years. In 2008, the (Belgian) Federal Agency for Nuclear Control determined acceptability criteria for X-ray equipment used for dentomaxillofacial imaging. An overview of the development of the criteria, together with implementation and the first results of dental QC in Belgium, is discussed.