Empowering Nations with Knowledge: Rosatom's Commitment to Nuclear Education, Int'l Collaboration - Sponsored

Al-Ahram Weekly

20-03-2025

During the International Youth Forum for Sustainable Nuclear Technologies, Ahram Online exclusively interviewed Tatiana Terentyeva, deputy director general for Human Resources at Rosatom, who shared unprecedented insights into Rosatom's global educational initiatives and its ever-strengthening partnership with Egypt. .
This global gathering of young nuclear professionals and students was recently held in Alexandria.
As the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant — the largest nuclear construction project in the world today — continues to advance, this timely conversation highlights Rosatom's commitment to building state-of-the-art infrastructure and the human capital essential for the long-term success of national nuclear programs, particularly in developing countries.
The discussion delves into Rosatom's comprehensive approach to nuclear education, from training thousands of international students to establishing specialized research centers and forging university partnerships around the world.
Focusing on Egyptian-Russian cooperation, Terentyeva reveals that more than 100 Egyptian graduates have already completed advanced studies in nuclear technologies at Russian universities, many of whom are now contributing their expertise to Egypt's rapidly growing nuclear sector.
As nations worldwide seek sustainable energy solutions, Terentyeva underscores how knowledge transfer and capacity building are key pillars of Rosatom's international strategy.
The interview also sheds light on Rosatom's efforts to increase women's participation in the nuclear industry — challenging stereotypes and opening new pathways for female leadership in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Ahram Online: How does Rosatom contribute to the export of nuclear education to developing countries?
Tatiana Terentyeva: The development of nuclear energy and technologies is impossible without qualified personnel. The State Corporation "Rosatom" sees the training of highly qualified specialists for both future and existing nuclear projects as one of its key tasks at both the national and international levels.
The main goals of cooperation with partner countries are not only to prepare personnel for the nuclear facilities under construction in those countries but also to create a nuclear education system to ensure the sustainable development of the national nuclear industry.
Since 2010, we have been implementing a project to train personnel for the national nuclear programs of partner countries. We also offer a comprehensive approach to talent development, starting from middle school students, college students, and continuing with cooperation with universities in Russia and abroad for the transfer of knowledge and systematic development of engineering education at the most modern level.
As part of this project, more than 1,500 foreign nationals have received higher education in nuclear and related fields at Russian universities since 2010. Over 750 graduates have been employed at nuclear energy facilities within joint projects with the Russian Federation, while the others work in nuclear infrastructure organizations and related industries.
Today, our graduates are successfully working on projects and in partner organizations in foreign countries. For example, over 300 specialists were trained and employed for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project, and over 80 young specialists were trained for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
Our partner universities play a key role in personnel training, and there are currently more than 20 of them. To date, over 2,200 foreign students from 65 countries are studying nuclear and related disciplines at Rosatom's partner universities.
We actively develop educational programs in international markets through inter-university cooperation and support the opening of Russian university branches abroad.
Currently, we are implementing more than 20 joint programs in nuclear and related technologies with universities in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Rwanda, Turkey, Bolivia, South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Malaysia, Belarus, Ghana, and Brazil. There are joint programs between the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and the Egyptian-Russian University, as well as between Tomsk Polytechnic University and the Higher Council of Universities of Egypt.
We provide "Train-the-Trainer" courses for university professors in partner countries. This format helps transfer competencies in teaching nuclear and radiation technologies and covers a wide range of topics, from electricity production at large and small nuclear power stations to the irradiation of medical materials and agricultural products, as well as the creation of modern radiopharmaceuticals at research reactors.
Rosatom organizes Hackathons, open lectures by leading Russian professors on nuclear and related subjects, forums, conferences, and seminars in partner countries to spark young people's interest in nuclear science.
We have created a portal, "Nuclear Education in Russia," where information about Russian universities partnering with Rosatom and scholarships for foreign students is collected. All our activities are aimed at developing the nuclear education system and ensuring the personnel sovereignty of partner countries in the future.
AO: What role does Rosatom play in facilitating the education of Egyptian students in Russian universities? Can you share any success stories or challenges faced in the cooperation between Russia and Egypt in education and training?
TT: Cooperation between Rosatom State Corporation and Egypt in personnel training for the nuclear industry is carried out in several areas.
To date, about 100 graduates from Egypt have successfully completed their studies in nuclear technologies at Russian universities. All of them have undergone practical training at Rosatom enterprises.
Many work successfully in Egyptian universities, medical institutions, scientific organizations, and continue their education in graduate schools at Russian universities, which is also important for creating a sustainable nuclear infrastructure in the country.
These graduates are not only well-versed in Russian nuclear technologies but also in safety culture, which is essential for the timely commissioning and safe operation of nuclear power plants.
A priority area is, of course, training personnel for the construction of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. Training for future nuclear plant engineers incorporates extensive practical experience from Rosatom.
The training of future nuclear plant workers is staged: Russian language learning, technical training, and internships at reference nuclear plants. Egyptian students' final stage of training takes place at the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.
They will study the specifics of operating systems and equipment directly at their workplaces. Currently, about 170 students are undergoing training, and more than 90 have already completed their studies in Russia.
Rosatom is responsible for training over 1,500 key technical personnel for the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The planned total workforce is over 3,000 people.
We are also interested in opening Russian university branches in partner countries. In 2023, during the 14th meeting of the Russian-Egyptian Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation in Cairo, both sides supported the idea of establishing Russian university branches in Egypt based at the new Borg El-Arab Technological University in Alexandria. These branches will train specialists, including for the El-Dabaa project.
Rosatom is ready to support this project. We believe that opening Russian university branches will expand the possibilities for our cooperation in personnel training.
AO: Exclusive Education and Training Centres, International Youth Educational Projects (eg, Obninsk-Tech) – what makes exclusive education and training centres like Obninsk-Tech unique in their approach to international education?
TT: Obninsk Tech is an international scientific and educational centre for nuclear and related technologies, preparing a global engineering elite to solve high-tech tasks for our partner countries. The centre is located in the city of Obninsk.
I believe anyone familiar with the history of the Russian nuclear industry will understand that Obninsk was chosen not by chance as the location for creating a world-class scientific and educational cluster. Back in May 1946, a laboratory "V" was established here to study the possibilities of creating energy reactors. Now it is the Physico-Energy Institute named after Leipunsky.
In the late 1940s, the "V" laboratories were tasked with creating the first nuclear power plant. The Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant operated for a record 48 years. In 2024, we will mark the 70th anniversary of its commissioning.
In 2023, we also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Obninsk Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering, an MEPhI branch. Over 500 students from 30 countries currently study there.
Thus, the first science city in the country, Obninsk, has every reason to become the global youth nuclear capital with all the accompanying infrastructure. We are happy to see that young people eagerly responded to our call to join the creation of a new international educational center.
For the third time, the Obninsk New forum will be held in Obninsk, where young people from more than 70 countries will design what a modern educational hub for those ready to dedicate their lives to nuclear technologies should look like.
It is planned that by 2030, 10,000 students will annually participate in higher and additional education programs at Obninsk Tech. Obninsk Tech will become a large educational centre for training Russian and foreign specialists, a major scientific centre, and a venue for conferences, forums, and exhibitions on advanced nuclear and non-nuclear technologies.
This approach will bring together experts and scientists from nuclear and related industries, leading representatives of business, universities, and the public sector from Russia and partner countries, and, most importantly, the global nuclear youth: Russian and foreign students, foreign applicants, and young specialists.
AO: Will there be an expansion of opportunities for accepting Egyptian students in Russian universities specializing in nuclear sciences soon?
TT: From 2015 to 2024, Rosatom has allocated about 190 scholarships for students from the Arab Republic of Egypt, and we are ready to increase this number according to the needs of our Egyptian partners. We need each graduate to find their place in our joint projects.
Rosatom is ready to provide opportunities for Egyptian students to study at Russian universities and support partner universities: opening branches in Egypt and participating in the development and implementation of new educational programs to meet the country's existing needs.
In this regard, Rosatom has proposed the creation of a joint working group on personnel training and education with the involvement of all key stakeholders. Such cooperation will help determine the volume of Egyptian student training, including study at Russian universities.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, Rosatom will open the "Summer Nuclear University 2025" this year as part of the Obninsk Tech project. Egyptian university professors are invited to participate in professional development programs, and students can join two-week summer thematic schools.
We are open to continuing dialogue in this direction and view the development of cooperation in higher education as a long-term investment in the strategic partnership between our countries.
AO: Can you provide insights into the outcomes of the International Youth Forum on Sustainable Nuclear Technologies?
TT: The goal of our Forum was to attract youth attention to the role of nuclear technologies in sustainable development and to reveal the potential of nuclear technologies for the younger generation. Reflecting on the outcomes of the event, I would like to note that we managed to engage not only youth but also the professional nuclear community in addressing issues related to involving the younger generation in the development of the industry.
In addition to the participation of about 350 people from 25 countries, around 800,000 people watched the event's online broadcast. We consider this an undeniable success and a sign of the great interest of the international community in further involving youth in the development of the global nuclear industry.
Importantly, the forum took place in Egypt, where Rosatom is implementing the largest nuclear construction project in the world – the country's first nuclear power plant, El-Dabaa.
The future of the global nuclear industry lies with the youth. Young people will soon take responsibility for the fate of their countries and the world.
In this regard, we see one of the important outcomes of the Forum as the creation of a platform for dialogue with youth, where we can not only demonstrate the contribution that nuclear energy and technologies make to sustainable development but also discuss the industry's future strategy with the youth.
AO: What programs to support women have you implemented?
TT: Twenty years ago, it was truly hard to imagine that the face of the nuclear industry could be female. Today, one-third of Rosatom's employees are women, which is almost 10% higher than the global average.
In the industry, women lead key areas, oversee nuclear power plant construction, and manage nuclear icebreakers. They inspire us with their example.
Rosatom has accumulated significant experience in implementing projects in the interest of women. We have created a powerful community called "Women of the Nuclear Industry," with over 3,000 participants from more than 40 regions of Russia and nearly 20 foreign countries.
Rosatom has a special women's leadership program, "[Un]seen Strength," for developing management skills and maintaining a balance between personal and professional life. Today, this is not just an educational program, but a professional women's community where women leaders exchange business ideas and find allies for new ventures.
This year, an international women's summer school will be held for young women professionals in the nuclear industry. The school will be part of the Leadership Academy "Obninsk Tech." The educational program, designed for women in nuclear and related sectors, will help them develop their professional growth strategies.
Rosatom is part of the international gender balance group of the IAEA. Together, we are developing and applying global standards to the global nuclear industry. We cooperate in various formats with more than 20 countries worldwide, including countries in the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Gender equality is the key to sustainable development for any major company, enabling it to respond to new challenges effectively, operate steadily, and achieve strategic development goals.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link: