Nuclear energy in the spotlight: Winter School in Pilsen connects students, industry and nations

The University of West Bohemia in Pilsen hosts the French–Czech–Slovak Nuclear Winter School, offering students insight into current energy challenges from a European perspective. The opening was attended by the French Ambassador and the new Chair of the State Office for Nuclear Safety.

According to European estimates, the construction of new nuclear units and the development of small modular reactors will require tens of thousands of new professionals in the coming decades — from designers and engineers to specialists in operations, safety, and technology management. Preparing a new generation of experts is therefore one of the main goals of the Trilateral Nuclear Winter School, organized this year by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at UWB.

This year’s edition, launched on Monday, 23 February, by the Rector of UWB together with the French Ambassador and the Chair of the State Office for Nuclear Safety, focuses on systems that form key parts of nuclear power plants beyond the reactor itself. “What I enjoy most is the opportunity to discuss with invited experts and see how similar technologies are handled in practice. It gives you a much broader perspective on the field,” says one of the participating students.

Specialists from EDF and Framatome have prepared lectures on plant operation, cooling systems, and the interaction between the reactor and the conventional parts of a power plant. Companies including Doosan, ZAT, and ŠKODA JS have organized expert demonstrations and discussions, giving students the opportunity to see technologies in real-world applications. Throughout the week, participants also work on team projects, the results of which they present at the conclusion of the Nuclear Winter School.

“The Trilateral Nuclear Winter School creates a space where academia, industry, and international experts come together. Students gain not only professional knowledge but also a broader understanding of how European cooperation in nuclear energy works,” says Jana Jiřičková from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at UWB, one of the event’s organizers. According to her, the international dimension is one of the initiative’s key benefits, with a tradition spanning more than ten years. “The long-term cooperation between France, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia supports the education of a new generation of experts who will play a crucial role in the future development of low-emission energy,” she adds.