News

05.03.2022

TURKISH GRADUATES OF PETER THE GREAT ST. PETERSBURG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY RECEIVED DIPLOMAS

March 5, 2022, Saint Petersburg, Russia. – Turkish graduates of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) have completed the studies in “Nuclear Power Plants: Design, Operation and Engineering" within the scope of Akkuyu NPP operations personnel training program. Graduation of Turkish students from SPbPU is already the sixth within the program implementation period this. Since 2018 four groups of graduate specialists of MEPhI and one group of master degree graduates from SPbPU had obtained diplomas.

All 24 participants of the students class from the Republic of Turkey had successfully completed the program, moreover three of them obtained diplomas with distinction. They were enrolled in the Akkuyu NPP specialist training program in 2015, for which they passed a multilevel selection with tests and interviews, as well as studied Russian at the university foundation program for a year. They also did internships at Leningrad NPP, went on tours to Izhora Plant and Atommash in Petrozavodsk to study the Akkuyu NPP equipment manufacturing process, visited various energy facilities in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Graduates of the program defended their diplomas in January and will start working at the Akkuyu NPP in Mersin, Turkey, as early as summer this year.

During the years of study Turkish students not only acquired a specialty but also participated in the cultural and social life of the university. Nurberk SUNGUR became a Maria Sklodowska-Curie IAEA Fellow and will go to Vienna for a year-long internship. Students organized a festival of Turkish culture at Polytechnic University. Ege Mert, Sahin Can Tipi, and Furkan Arslan organized a rock band, and last year they became finalists of the «Polyrock» student bands contest.

Anastasia Zoteeva, Chief Executive Officer of Akkuyu Nuclear JSC: "I would like to congratulate our graduates with successful graduation from the university. We are waiting for all of them at the Akkuyu NPP construction site. Now, a new interesting and eventful life stage awaits them, where they will be applying the obtained knowledge with support from professional and wise mentors. There is a lot of very interesting and important work ahead. This is a situation the young specialists could only dream of, with all the required resources being available for productive, fruitful and eventful labor activities and with unlimited career prospects! I hope the qualified young specialists will continue to engage in self-education, play music and sports and pursue their hobbies, but now in our large friendly team. I eagerly support this". 

Professor Dmitry Arseniev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of SPbPU Vice President of the SPbPU: "Being one of the finest Russian universities, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University actively participates in training specialists for Turkey's rapidly developing nuclear industry. Our university possesses a great experience in the development of human resources for design, operation and engineering of nuclear power plants and trains highly skilled professionals. I am confident that great professional opportunities await the Turkish graduates at the first nuclear power plant in Turkey. From our side, we are happy to develop scientific and educational cooperation with AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC".

Mustafa Elaldi, 2022 SPbPU graduate: “I am very glad I have decided to receive higher education in Russia.  Six and a half years of diligent study at the SPbPU are over. Now we know a lot, we can do a lot and look forward to the start of our work at the first NPP in our country. We saw for ourselves that Russia is a leader in the nuclear energy industry, and our knowledge is invaluable in terms of future prospects of the nuclear technology development in Turkey. I am glad that in the near future I will start working in my specialty I’ve been dreaming of.”

Cihan Acikgoz, 2022 SPbPU graduate: "I am proud that I have graduated from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, one of the finest Russian universities. It was not easy to study, but I successfully passed all exams and obtained diploma with distinction. It has been an interesting experience, we have spent 6.5 years here and now we are ready to work in our home country. I enjoyed studying in Russia! Turkey, meet next-generation nuclear experts!"

Nurberk Sungur, 2022 SPbPU graduate: "The St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is one of the best technical universities in the world, and I am proud that I have studied there. My education allowed me to become a specialist who meets the highest global standards. Thanks to my new acquaintances and teachers, I have learnt a lot and now proudly return to my country as a young nuclear engineer".

About the Akkuyu NPP specialists training program

The targeted personnel training program for Akkuyu NPP is implemented on the basis of the "Intergovernmental Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation in the field of construction and operation of the nuclear power plant at the Akkuyu NPP site in the Republic of Turkey" to train specialists among the citizens of the Republic of Turkey, followed by their employment with Akkuyu NPP. The education program was initiated by AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC in 2011. The cost of training specialists is covered by the Russian side.

The training takes place at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhI) and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). The first Turkish students started their study at Russian universities in 2011 under the specialist program "Nuclear Power Plants: Design, Operation and Engineering".

208 graduates of the Akkuyu NPP personnel training program have joined the team of AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC and now successfully work at the first NPP construction project in Turkey. 35 young Turkish specialists completed the training course and employed with AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC in March 2018, 53 – in February 2019, 55 – in February 2020, 43 – in February 2021 and 22 – in August 2021. 85 Turkish students are currently studying at MEPhI and SPbPU.