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For nuclear energy to continue developing, it is essential to ensure a sufficient number of qualified professionals. This is recognized not only by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, but also by the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Ukraine (SSTC NRS). The two institutions, therefore, want to join forces. They are planning internships for students and researchers, summer schools, and joint participation in international projects. Representatives of UWB and SSTC NRS reached a preliminary agreement during their first joint meeting held on the university campus in Pilsen. Both sides see strong potential in future cooperation.

“We have extensive experience in education, student preparation, and academic support, and we believe we can share this experience with the University of West Bohemia and vice versa. We would also like to learn more about how UWB prepares its students and works with them. We are impressed by the level of preparation of your students and by the amount of knowledge you can pass on to them. They are very well-prepared students,” explained Ihor Shevchenko when describing his interest in cooperation. He also noted that he was impressed by the university’s technical faculties' facilities and equipment.

Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development Josef Basl also sees opportunities for cooperation. After meeting with the Ukrainian delegation, he noted that the areas of activity of both institutions overlap in many respects and that a potential partnership could be beneficial for both sides. This view is shared by Jana Jiřičková from the Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. “SSTC NRS is a scientific and research organization, and both the academic and scientific approaches are always enriching. When you meet with someone to discuss current topics such as SMRs or nuclear safety, that is important on an international level,” she said.

The first joint initiative between the two institutions could already take the form of a summer school next year. According to Ihor Shevchenko, Czech students would not have to travel to a country affected by war: “We want to organize a special summer school somewhere in Europe together with students from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine. It should also involve cooperation with Argonne National Laboratory in the United States. The United States wants to support students from Eastern European countries in implementing Western technologies.” UWB representatives also see such a project as meaningful. According to them, it is essential to motivate young people by every possible means to study technical fields.

The five-member delegation from the Ukrainian State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety met in Pilsen not only with Josef Basl and Jana Jiřičková, but also with Milan Edl, Jan Zdebor, Josef Voldřich, and some more. Representatives of SSTC NRS and the University of West Bohemia now plan to prepare a memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks. They hope to sign it before the start of the new academic year.