Future Nuclear Engineers Meet in Moscow

Participants in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) personnel training program reviewed their first year of master's studies. Engineers who gained more insight into the operations of nuclear power plant workshops also learned about the development history of the Russian nuclear industry during the visit.

Turkish students pursuing master's degrees at the National Nuclear Research University Moscow Institute of Engineering and Physics (NRNU MEPhI) and the National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute (NRU MPEI) met with representatives of AKKUYU NUCLEAR INC., where they will work after graduation, at the Atom Museum in Moscow.

During the meeting, students evaluated the results of their first year of education while also receiving information about the staffing structure of the nuclear power plant and professional development opportunities. Company management from AKKUYU NUCLEAR INC. and representatives of Akkuyu NPP workshops participating in the meeting provided students with information about post-graduation recruitment process, personnel adaptation and operations at the plant.
Students also toured the exhibitions at the Atom Museum, Russia's largest education and information center in the nuclear industry field. The museum visit was an important part of the educational process. The future engineers gained a comprehensive perspective on the development of nuclear energy from the first scientific discoveries to modern technologies.

General Director of AKKUYU NUCLEAR INC. Sergei Butckikh made a statement on the matter: "The training of young Turkish specialists contributes to the establishment of a national nuclear education system and the sustainable development of Turkey's nuclear sector. Rosatom has a social standard related to human resources that it applies taking into account the characteristics of partner countries. This standard encompasses education and intercultural communication. We educate Turkish engineers at Russia's leading universities in nuclear and related fields, and involve them in cultural, information and sports events throughout the sector even during the education phase. The specialist training program for Akkuyu NPP is actively developing. This year the number of students will double. In the fall, 70 Turkish citizens who have successfully passed entrance exams will be admitted to master's programs at four Russian universities. We will support them in their professional journeys, help with their development and enable them to pursue careers in the field of nuclear energy," he said.

Muhammed Mustafa Orhan, master's student in Nuclear Energy and Thermophysics at NRU MPEI, made the following comments regarding the visit: "We feel trusted and expected in the Akkuyu NPP project. I have dreamed of working in the nuclear field since high school. I completed a bachelor's program in nuclear engineering in Turkey and now I am studying at one of Russia's best technical universities. Here, I am learning the knowledge and experience that Rosatom has accumulated over decades. This year Russia's nuclear sector is celebrating its 80th anniversary and we are being given the opportunity to inherit this unique experience."

Gülsena Özkeskin, master's student in the Nuclear Energy and Thermophysics department at NRNU MEPhI, also said: "Studying at NRNU MEPhI is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge at the very center of Russia's nuclear school. My first year was very intensive and now I am eagerly awaiting my specialization courses. Today, we directly learned about the Akkuyu NPP project from Turkish specialists already working at the plant. Their professional journeys are inspiring! I especially appreciate the fact that they support us and involve us in the project's life even during our education. This gives us confidence. I am proud to have found the opportunity to contribute to the development of Turkey's nuclear energy. Additionally, I would like to emphasize the impressive exhibition at the Atom Museum; this exhibition provides a deep dive into the world of atomic technologies. There is interesting content here for visitors of all ages and professions," she said.