“Nuclear science and technology save millions of lives – they provide one third of the world’s carbon free energy, they fight diseases like cancer, COVID and malaria, they increase crops and reduce plastic pollution,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in a video message at the start of the course. “None of this would be possible without a legal framework that carefully weighs the risks and benefits of nuclear science and technology.”

The year-long course offers 368 hours of instruction across ten core subjects taught by local and international professors in a hybrid format combining in-person and online learning. ?Participants also benefit from technical visits, gaining practical insights into the nuclear sector.

“The experience has been transformative,” said Mara Florencia Arbizu, a participant in the programme. “It has not only deepened my understanding of nuclear law but also opened new professional pathways I had not considered before.”

The next cohort is set to begin in August 2025, building additional capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is a crucial step toward ensuring that countries in the region are equipped with the legal expertise needed to harness the potential of nuclear science and technology.?

“The launch of this postgraduate course fills a vital gap in legal education, empowering professionals to address the technical and regulatory challenges of the nuclear sector,” said Emiliano Buis, course director at the UBA.

The UBA programme is part of a broader initiative launched in 2022 by the IAEA Director General to address the urgent need for legal expertise in the nuclear sector. UBA is one of six institutions selected by the IAEA to participate in the global initiative, alongside universities in Brazil, Egypt, Jamaica, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. It is jointly supported by the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation and the Office of Legal Affairs, which administered training of teaching staff and provided comprehensive materials covering the full spectrum of the course curriculum.

The IAEA supports countries in developing comprehensive national legislation to ensure the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technologies. The IAEA also offers legislative assistance to member countries in developing such legislation and in implementing international legal instruments in this field through its technical cooperation programme.