Raphaël (22): ‘After attending the summer school, I just knew: this is the field I want to go into’
"I essentially knew almost nothing about the nuclear world." Nevertheless, young engineer Raphaël Cavenaile signed up for the BENE summer school last year. It was there that he discovered how diverse disciplines come together within the nuclear sector and what contribution he, as an electrical engineer, could make. Next month, he is even starting a further specialisation via the BNEN programme. The Belgian SCK CEN and the Dutch Nuclear Academy hope that more students will follow Raphaël’s example, as they organised a second edition of the summer school this week.
For around forty students, the BENE summer school comes to an end this week. With this summer school, the Belgian SCK CEN Academy and the Dutch Nuclear Academy (NRG PALLAS and TU Delft) aim to inspire young talent to pursue further specialised studies and/or a career in the nuclear sector. Under the motto 'Your gateway to a career in nuclear', bachelor's and master's students in technical subjects from Belgium and the Netherlands were given the opportunity to experience nuclear science and technology first-hand over the course of a week through lectures, company visits and meetings with experts.
The story of Raphaël Cavenaile proves that such a week can be more than just a first introduction to the nuclear sector. The young engineer took part in the BENE Summer School last year and discovered a sector that was much broader and more versatile than he had expected. “At first, I dreamed of a career in the aerospace sector, but during my studies, my interest in climate change and the energy transition grew. Was I considering the nuclear sector at the time? To be honest, I hardly knew a thing about it. The summer school gave me the chance to discover what that sector actually involved and whether it would be right for me. And it definitely is,” he says enthusiastically.
That experience ultimately proved decisive in shaping his future study and career choices, leading him to enrol in BNEN, an advanced master’s programme in nuclear engineering.
Who is Raphaël Cavenaile?
Age: 22
Degree: Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
University: UCLouvain (Louvain-la-Neuve)
Bachelor's: Engineering Sciences with majors in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering
Participant: BENE Summer School 2025
Next step: Start the BNEN programme in September
A booming sector
The Netherlands is intending to build four new nuclear reactors and to keep the current nuclear power plant at Borssele in Zeeland open. The Belgian government aims to add 4 gigawatts of nuclear energy to the energy mix by extending existing capacity, on the one hand, and investing in the construction of new capacity on the other. It goes without saying that the sector is increasingly in need of new talent.
Therein lies the true strength of the BENE summer school. By introducing students to the nuclear sector, it not only helps them discover what the industry has to offer today, but also what contribution they themselves can make tomorrow. For Raphaël, the summer school came at just the right time.
"I had just graduated as an electrical engineer from UCLouvain. I wanted to focus professionally on energy systems, but I wasn't sure which branch that would be. I hadn’t realised just how multidisciplinary the nuclear sector is. It requires people from various disciplines, ranging from physics and mechanics to electrical engineering. That realisation only came through conversations with experts and company visits during the summer school," he continues. “An initiative like this is a great opportunity to discover whether the nuclear sector is a good fit. That helped me make a decision. I would therefore recommend it to everyone."
From inspiration to specialisation
Raphaël was also struck by the openness and passion of fellow students, researchers, engineers, and lecturers alike: "Before the summer school, I had the impression that the nuclear sector was rather rigid and technical. But everyone I met was focused on collaboration and had a huge passion for their field. That was purely an extra incentive to learn more."
After the summer school, Raphaël decided to enrol in the BNEN programme starting in September.
"What appeals to me about the BNEN programme is the combination of academic depth and a strong connection to practice,” he says. “After years at university, I want to learn in an environment where you are surrounded daily by people actively working in the sector. That makes the transition to professional life much more concrete."
What is BNEN?
BNEN (Belgian Nuclear Higher Education Network) is a one-year advanced master's programme in nuclear engineering. The programme is organised by a unique partnership between six Belgian universities and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN.
The programme is aimed at young engineers and scientists wishing to specialise further in nuclear technology and its applications. Through a combination of academic expertise, research, and close links with the sector, BNEN brings students into direct contact with researchers, engineers, and professionals working in the nuclear field.
In addition to training the next generation of nuclear experts, BNEN also aims to strengthen and preserve high-level nuclear knowledge and expertise in Belgium and beyond. More info: bnen.sckcen.be
