The second group of Turkish students has graduated from the NRNU MEPhI in Moscow. The students from Vietnam and Mongolia have also obtained their diploma. They received training under programs related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants. Mikhail Strikhanov, Rector of the NRNU MEPhI, representatives of the Turkish embassy and other guests of honor took part in the solemn graduation ceremony.
M.N. Strikhanov, Rector of the NRNU MEPhI, underlined that the young people had made a right choice in favor of education in one of the leading Russian University. Mikhail Nikolaevich congratulated the graduates on this solemn occasion and expressed the hope for further partnership: «We’ll pursue our collaboration; and you’ll continue joint work with MEPhI while working in your countries. I believe that we’ll welcome many of you as university professors, executives of the nuclear industry of your countries».
Marina Karaseva, HR Director of AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC, extended greetings to the young specialists: «You’ve spent time by studying different coursed not only in the auditoria but “in reality”, at operating Russian NPPs. Speaking Russian you’ll be able to directly learn from the experience of your Russian colleagues-mentors; but the most important thing is that you’ll bring knowledge of state-of-the-art Russian nuclear technologies in the nuclear industries of your countries. You learnt a lot from the experienced University faculty; we count on your active involvement into implementation of the project of construction of the first nuclear power plant in Turkey. Work at NPP is a lot of challenges for the extended period of time, much-needed profession and secure employment for many years».
Training of the staff for Akkuyu NPP in Russian was initiated in 2011. Last year 35 graduated from Turkey got their diplomas on the specialty “Nuclear power plants: design, operation and engineering”. They studied 6.5 years in MEPhI, and AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC has hired all of them. Now over 140 Turkish students continue their education in Russian Universities under the program of target preparation.
Many guests of honor welcomed the young specialists at the solemn ceremony that was followed by a concert prepared by the student’s creative teams.
The Turkish graduates shared their emotions and plans for the future:
Gülben Yldız: «All of us connect the future with the project of the NPP construction in Turkey. We ought to apply knowledge and skills obtained and be useful for our country. Practically all neighboring countries have operating NPPs; and Turkey highly needs nuclear power generation. Nuclear power plants are reliable and environment-friendly clean source of energy; and Akkuyu NPP will become one of the safest in the world».
Yusuf Kılıç: «When I realized that the NRNU MEPhI is one of the leading Universities in the world, I decided to come here; it is a good opportunity to become an international-level professional. Today is our graduation. We got perfect education, and I did not regret that I spent 6.5 years for training in Russia. Now I have a profession that let me work at Akkuyu NPP».
For reference:
Akkuyu NPP is being built under the Intergovernmental Agreement signed by Russia and Turkey in May 2010. Rosatom State Corporation is a majority shareholder of the Project company AKKUYU NUCLEAR that under the long-term contract has committed to design, build, service, operate and decommission of the plant. Akkuyu NPP is a first project in the global nuclear industry realized under the BOO model (Build-Own-Operate). The Akkuyu NPP construction project is being fully (100%) funded by the Russian side. The Project of Akkuyu NPP comprised four power units with Russian VVER reactors of generation 3+. The capacity of each power unit of the NPP is 1200MW.