Five UWB students get a behind-the-scenes look at Temelín

How does a nuclear power plant work, what does its safe operation involve, and what procedures are followed in an emergency? During the summer holidays, selected students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering had the opportunity to learn firsthand.

Jan Hanslbauer, Denisa Janová, Milan Novák, Jan Prüher, and Radek Suk are students in follow-up Master’s programs at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. To spend two weeks of their summer holidays at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, they had to pass a demanding selection process, including psychological tests assessing their personality traits and suitability – much like actual applicants for jobs in the nuclear energy sector. The Temelín Summer University program then gave them access to areas normally closed to the public, including the reactor building and turbine hall. The students particularly appreciated the opportunity to experience real plant operations and meet industry professionals.

“During the Summer University, I gained a much better understanding of how a nuclear power plant actually works. The most valuable experience for me was seeing the plant in operation firsthand and visiting places that are normally inaccessible to the public. I also had the opportunity to talk to experts in the field and make contacts that I hope to use when looking for future employment at Temelín,” said Jan Prüher, one of the program participants.

Over the two weeks, the students also attended lectures that focused in detail on the plant’s operations, as well as its safety and security systems. According to Prüher, one of the most interesting experiences in this respect was a practical test of emergency procedures: “We also had the opportunity to practice the plant evacuation procedure in the event of an accident.” The students were thus able to experience firsthand just how important precision, discipline, and crisis management are in the nuclear energy sector.

However, the participants’ attention was not limited to the power plant itself. The surrounding area is home to several related technical facilities that the students explored during field trips and cycling excursions. They visited, for example, the Hněvkovice waterworks and the Kočín substation, a key hub in the Czech electricity transmission system.

The Temelín Summer University is a two-week professional internship and educational program organized by the ČEZ Group for students of technical universities. It offers not only a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important energy facilities in the Czech Republic, but also an opportunity to connect academic knowledge with real-world practice and establish contacts that may prove valuable in their future careers. ČEZ also organizes a similar Summer University at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant.