Brno University of Technology in Czechia launches two-year master's programme in nuclear energy

A two-year master's programme in nuclear energy, together with a specialised laboratory, was opened this afternoon at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication of Brno University of Technology (FEKT BUT). The university is returning to a tradition that began in the 1950s, programme director Karel Katovský of FEKT BUT's Department of Electrical Power Engineering said at the opening ceremony.

„Companies have found that the region lacks engineers with greater knowledge of nuclear energy. At the same time, student interest has begun to grow. Everything came together with the decision to complete the power plant at Dukovany. At BUT, we can contribute to its success in the most valuable way: by training a new generation of nuclear experts,“ Katovský added.

Students will learn about the technologies involved in operating nuclear power plants. This includes the design of power equipment and machinery, including steam turbines; water technology and its circulation in a nuclear power plant; and materials, structural engineering, and systems approaches to designing and managing processes at a nuclear power plant. The curriculum also includes courses taught at the faculties of mechanical engineering, chemistry, and civil engineering.

The two-year programme, which will admit 24 students, will be organised somewhat differently from other programmes. Teaching is divided into three-month blocks, each ending with a one-week examination period. „We want to give students enough time for internships with partner companies in the nuclear sector, where they should also write their master's theses. Internships will also be available in Korea, the United States, Belgium, or Slovakia,“ explained Lukáš Nesvadba, who is responsible for organising the programme.

Alongside the programme, a new nuclear energy and ionising radiation laboratory also opened today. It will offer students a safe environment to gain experience with measuring instruments, testing the radiation resistance of materials, and handling radionuclides in a controlled area. The laboratory is also ready for the future installation of a particle accelerator.