Thanks to its more than fifty years of experience in the field of nuclear science and technology, radiological protection and radiobiology, SCK•CEN is reputed to be an outstanding centre of research, training and education, both with the government, the academic world and the private sector. The International School for Radiological Protection (isRP), a task force within SCK•CEN, co-ordinates and organises the training programs on all aspects of radiological protection. isRP courses are directed as well to the private sector as to the political and academic world and the general public.

In the private sector, the courses are aimed at personnel of the Belgian nuclear power plants, fuel fabrication and waste treatment companies and of external companies providing nuclear services. Courses are also organised in cooperation with public and private health services, and in particular for medical personnel working with radioactive radiation and requiring recognition by the government.

The isRP addresses the safety and emergency services within the frame of missions from the ministries of the Interior, Public Health, Social Affairs and the Environment, Labour and Employment. In a series of summer courses on emergency planning, a whole network of emergency services, chemists and physicians are prepared to come into action in case of a serious accident.

The isRP has established a close relationship with various international organisations active in nuclear science and technology and contributes on a regular basis to the training programs of Euratom and the European Commission, the European ALARA Network and the IAEA. Also isRP is involved in the Belgian and European Nuclear Engineering Network activities (BNEN, ENEN) and the 7FP ENETRAP-II (www.sckcen.be/enetrap2) and EUTERP (www.euterp.eu) activities.

Towards the general public, isRP works together on regular basis with Belgian industries' visitors centres and with the regional and Belgian state-sponsored communication activities on Physics and Nuclear Science towards schools and local communities. In cooperation with the SCK•CEN-PISA activities (program of Integration of Social Aspects into Nuclear Research), isRP has build up experience with the theory and practice of the multidisciplinary assessment of education and communication towards the general public on topics such as radiological protection, (nuclear) energy policy and radioactive waste management.

The isRP teachers are SCK•CEN staff members who have a solid knowledge in their field, and who can thus directly transfer their practical experience into the various courses. The courses are supported by extensively documented slides (and for several modules also textbooks), and for certain relevant subjects, with interactive software designed at SCK•CEN.