On 25 June 2026, an online webinar titled “Updating and Improving Educational Programmes in Nuclear Education Fields at Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine” was held. The event was dedicated to presenting new academic disciplines developed within the NURECAB project by Ukrainian partner universities, taking into account the current needs of the nuclear sector.
The webinar brought together around 70 representatives from higher education institutions, research organisations, and public and private companies in the nuclear sector. In total, 10 new academic courses were presented, developed by five leading Ukrainian universities: V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National University “Odesa Polytechnic”, and National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”.
The topics of the new disciplines were defined based on an analysis of the needs of 47 organisations in the Ukrainian nuclear sector, which made it possible to identify key areas for specialist training: nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and medical physics.
Sergii Puhach, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Coordinator of the National Contact Point “Euratom – Nuclear Fission” in Ukraine (NSC “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology”), presented the results of the NURECAB study on identifying gaps between educational programmes and the needs of the nuclear sector. The study included a large-scale survey of employers, which revealed a shortage of qualified personnel and the need to update educational content. The speaker also outlined the overall and specific objectives of the project and presented the NURECAB consortium.
Pylyp Kuznietsov presented new academic disciplines developed at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University: “Diagnostics of High-Temperature Plasma” and “Medical Imaging”. These courses aim to develop modern competencies in plasma physics and nuclear medicine, combining fundamental training with advanced technologies.
Leonid Konotopskyi (National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”) presented the courses “Physics of the Interaction of Accelerated Particles with Solids” and “Plasma and Radiation Surface Interaction of Materials”. These disciplines focus on training specialists in materials science and fusion energy, covering radiation damage mechanisms, plasma–material interactions, and computational modelling.
Volodymyr Kravchenko and Yurii Komarov (National University “Odesa Polytechnic”) presented courses on the qualification of safety systems for nuclear power plants and the technology of nuclear power plants with PWR-type reactors, including training using the Generic PWR simulator.
Sergii Klevtsov (Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute) presented the disciplines “Diagnostics and Reliability of Technological Equipment of Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Systems” and “Equipment, Systems and Control Principles of Nuclear Power Plants with PWR-Type Reactors”. These courses are aimed at developing practical competencies in technical diagnostics, equipment reliability assessment, ageing management, and safe operation of nuclear power plants.
Ruslan Yermolenko and Oleksii Kharytonov (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv) presented the course “Nuclear Installations of Microreactors and Small Modular Reactors,” dedicated to the operating principles and technologies of next-generation microreactors and small modular reactors, as well as the course “Special Models of Thermal-Hydraulic Codes for PWR Safety Analysis,” focused on modern methods of computer modelling of thermal-hydraulic processes and accident scenario analysis.
Sergii Klevtsov (Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute) also presented the remote learning system “ASKO”, implemented in cooperation with JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” and partner universities. The system supports the creation of e-learning courses, knowledge testing, and monitoring of the educational process, contributing to the harmonisation of training for nuclear industry specialists.
The webinar also included an active discussion of the presented results. Participants noted the high scientific and methodological level of the new educational programmes, their relevance to the current needs of the nuclear industry, and their importance for training the next generation of specialists.
The webinar confirmed the effectiveness of cooperation between Ukrainian universities, research institutions, and industry partners within the NURECAB project, which is aimed at improving nuclear education and integrating Ukraine into the European educational area.
Speakers’ Presentations:
- Oleksii Kharytonov: Specialized Thermal-Hydraulic Safety Analysis Code Models for PWRs
- Leonid Konotopskyi: Educational Courses Developed at the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”
- Dmytro Shamis and Sergii Klevtsov: Implementation of the ASKO E-Learning System for Joint Use by Nuclear Universities of Ukraine
- Volodymyr Kravchenko: Educational Courses Developed at Odesa Polytechnic National University (Department of Nuclear Power Plants)
- Sergii Klevtsov: Nuclear Power Plant Technology with PWR-Type Reactors
- Sergii Klevtsov: Diagnostics and Reliability of Process Equipment at Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Units
- Ruslan Yermolenko: Nuclear Installations Based on Microreactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
- Pylyp Kuznietsov: NURECAB Educational Courses Developed at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Educational and Scientific Institute “School of Physics and Technology”)
- Yurii Komarov: Educational Courses Developed at Odesa Polytechnic National University (Department of Nuclear Power Plants)
