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Nuclear power is the future. It's a conviction shared not only by the Czech government but also by experts from the University of West Bohemia (UWB) in Pilsen. The Ministry of Industry and Trade repeatedly points out a future critical shortage of workers for power plants and their suppliers. According to the ministry, thousands of specialists, who are currently lacking in the Czech Republic, will be needed to complete the planned new units at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant and to support the future expansion of Temelín. Pilsen's technical faculties offer a solution. Three of them are involved in training energy experts: the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and the Faculty of Applied Sciences at UWB.

"We currently offer Nuclear Engineering Management. Thanks to our cooperation with the Atomic Energy Agency, we have undergone a type of audit confirming that we meet the requirements for an engineer who will be capable of actively working across various departments at a nuclear power plant," says Jana Jiřičková, an expert on nuclear energy education from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. According to her, graduates of this field gain not only technical knowledge but also expertise in management and legislation. "It produces a well-rounded engineer who will cover a broader scope of operations at a nuclear power plant and understand what they might encounter," the educator adds.

The field of Construction of Nuclear Energy Equipment at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is also deeply tied to the university's long history. "Currently, our Department of Power Engineering Machinery and Equipment offers two specializations, one of which is called Construction of Nuclear Energy Equipment," states nuclear energy expert Jan Zdebor. According to him, the faculty has been producing new graduates every year since 1963, though the program is constantly being modernized. "Career prospects for these graduates are fantastic because they can go into manufacturing companies, such as Pilsen's Škoda JS, work directly at a power plant, or enter public administration. I say this because past graduates of the department are represented in all those places today," Zdebor notes with pride.

UWB's Faculty of Applied Sciences offers further study options for a future career in the nuclear sector, where interested students can focus on fields such as robotics. "The educational process at the university is about giving a person the capacity to be an engineer; once they step into an actual technological facility, it's up to them how they apply themselves. I have no doubt that employers will be fighting over graduates from the technical faculties - whether it's mechanical, electrical, or applied sciences," Jiřičková explains, adding that nearly half of the students already have jobs lined up before they even receive their diplomas. On top of that, UWB also offers retraining programs.

Are you interested in nuclear energy, its safety, and its future? Listen to the full interview on Spotify and YouTube.