WUT summarises its participation in the “Atom at Universities” programme

The project attracted significant interest from the academic community, which facilitated the effective training of a large group of students from the Warsaw University of Technology. Its implementation was based on a strong integration of theoretical knowledge with intense industrial practice, responding to growing labour-market demand in the sector of energy safety.

The project was implemented through broad inter-faculty collaboration, which enabled the consolidation of the scientific potential of the university. Synergised competencies of experts from the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Physics, Administration and Social Sciences, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, and other WUT units enabled the development of an interdisciplinary educational programme. The programme covered a comprehensive range of topics – beginning with legal conditions and physics of reactors, through simulators, detection, attenuation of ionising radiation, and concluding with civil and materials engineering. Part of the classes were carried out in specialised laboratories of the Institute of Thermal Technology, giving participants the opportunity to become directly acquainted with reactor technology and safety systems in nuclear facilities under laboratory conditions.

The Warsaw University of Technology summarises its participation in the “Atom at Universities” programme.

12 000 hours of internships

A key part of the “Atom at Universities” initiative, carried out in parallel to theoretical classes, was a programme of paid industrial placements, in which 24 students participated. Agreements with 12 sector entities, including research centres and technological companies, allowed future engineers to complete over 12 000 hours of internships. The formula facilitated engaging students in ongoing research and production processes, providing substantial added value to their educational process. The participants worked on specific technical issues under the supervision of experienced mentors, substantially improving their professional qualifications.

“The implemented undertaking fits into the comprehensive programme of development of nuclear power at the Warsaw University of Technology. The programme involves a range of coordinated activities: courses and study visits of scientific staff, educating students in nuclear-related fields of study, as well as extended collaboration with the nuclear sector in Poland and abroad,” emphasises Prof. Adam Kisiel, Rector’s Proxy for Nuclear Power. 

The evaluation of actions conducted at the Warsaw University of Technology confirms the high value of the content and organisation of the programme. Feedback forms show a positive reception of the programme by the students, who highly rated both the course content level and the preparation of the trainers. The participants mentioned noticeably improved technical skills and a better understanding of the specific nature of working in the nuclear power industry, which translates into their readiness to begin employment in this sector.

“For us, the participation in this initiative was an important test of our ability to respond quickly to economic needs. We created a mechanism that allowed students of various faculties to gain specialist knowledge, going beyond the standard educational framework. High content ratings given by participants and the course of collaboration let us believe that the selected pathway of combining theory with practice is appropriate for building the workforce for the Polish nuclear power sector,” summarises Prof. Grzegorz Niewiński, project leader. 

The educational offer of the Warsaw University of Technology has proved to be precisely aligned with the needs of the modern industry. The outcomes of the project prove that the university has the resources and competencies necessary to perform a leading role in the process of educating the workforce for strategic branches of the economy.