29 In 2017, INL welcomed international researchers from the following places: Japan: 2, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) Republic of Korea (South Korea): 8, Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Vietnam: 3, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute Interest in the International Researcher Program has continued to increase. To help visiting researchers feel more welcome, representatives from University Partnerships meet individually with each upon their arrival at INL, providing information about the lab and community activities. Likewise, exit interviews are conducted to gain information about what can be done to improve the program. INL’s Multicultural Employee Resource Group has been invaluable in the help it has provided, identifying and addressing practices and factors that might have caused international employees and visiting researchers to feel they were being treated in a less-than- inclusive manner. For example, a security plan can now be modified to permit international researchers to work with fellow researchers in different time zones. University Partnerships programs enable INL to bring several distinguished researchers and scientists to the lab to participate in vital programs and projects. IAEA AND ICERR In September 2017, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) designated INL as an International Centre based on Research Reactors (ICERR). University Partnerships’established protocol for hosting international visitors was a contributing factor to receiving this designation. INL’s facilities were recognized for their support of scientific discovery, medical and industrial isotope applications, and the advancement of nuclear fission, fusion energy and global security technologies.