Training a new generation of engineers in partnership with outstanding industry companies is on the agenda of Ukrainian higher education.

How does Kharkiv Polytechnic respond to the challenges of the time? What results and prospects does cooperation with Energoatom open up? What do the results of the 2025 admission campaign demonstrate? These and other aspects are highlighted in a conversation with the rector of the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” Yevhen Sokol.

– Mr. Sokol, an agreement on partnership and cooperation has been concluded between JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” and NTU “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”. How do you assess such interaction between the University and the leading energy company of Ukraine – the operator of all Ukrainian NPPs? What positive practices of this cooperation could and should be developed, in your opinion?

– The National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” highly appreciates the cooperation with JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”, a company that is a strategic partner of the University in developing engineering education, training specialists for nuclear industry and popularizing natural sciences among young people. This year we managed to implement two joint large-scale projects that have received positive feedback from participants.

One of them is the educational and motivational online project “In the Footsteps of CHORNOBYL” (April 21-25, 2025) – a five-day interdisciplinary marathon that gathered 939 participants from almost 100 settlements and over 5,000 views on social networks. The project program covered the topics of physics, chemistry, ecology, energy, history of science and technology and formed an awareness of the importance of safety and development of nuclear energy in Ukraine.

The second of these projects is the thematic Open Day of NTU “KhPI” held together with JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” (June 21, 2025), the first professionally oriented event in the history of the Uuniversity dedicated to the power industry. The online format with broadcasts on four platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram) attracted more than 600 viewers, bringing together participants from all regions of Ukraine and even from abroad. That event provided applicants with not only the opportunity to get acquainted with educational prospects, but also helped to form an idea of ​​​​their own professional path.

The cooperation showed that the synergy of science, education and the power industry could provide significant results in educating the younger generation and forming a conscious attitude towards safety and technology. Owing to the support of the company, we were able not only to popularize natural and mathematical sciences, but also to give schoolchildren and students a clear idea of ​​​​the opportunities of professional training and future employment in the field of nuclear energy.

“The modern model of interaction between a university and an enterprise is not based only on the occasional exchange of experience or internships, determine the directions of scientific research and train personnel for the real demands of the economy”

The experience of cooperation with Energoatom has demonstrated that the joint efforts of the university and the enterprise contribute to the formation of a unique environment for the professional growth of young people. Therefore, NTU “KhPI” proposes to preserve and strengthen these formats next year: in particular, to hold a thematic Open Day in February 2026, when registration for the NMT is ongoing, as well as to organize a large-scale educational and educational project for the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster (April 2026).

The purpose of these initiatives is not only to honor the memory and popularize science, but also to demonstrate to young people the modern capabilities of nuclear energy, motivate them to consciously choose engineering specialties and involve them in strengthening the energy sector of Ukraine.

Another unique component of the partnership with Energoatom is that the Research and Design Institute “Molniya” operates within the structure of NTU “KhPI”, a leading center in the field of electromagnetic compatibility, which provides technical support and maintenance of all nuclear power plants of Ukraine.

– The focus of expert discussions today is on the issue of ensuring the personnel needs of the power industry, in particular, the implementation by national polytechnics of a new model of interaction between higher education institutions and industrial companies. Could you explain in more detail what the new model of cooperation “university-enterprise” consists of and in what direction polytechnics should develop in modern conditions?

– The modern model of interaction between a university and an enterprise is not based only on the occasional exchange of experience or internships; it is a strategic partnership, within the framework of which both parties jointly shape the content of education, determine the directions of scientific research and train personnel for the real demands of the economy. The “university-enterprise” partnership model is not just relevant today, but strategically necessary for the training of a modern engineer.

Technological development is taking place so dynamically that classical educational formats are no longer able to ensure the correspondence between the educational process and the needs of production in full. That is why NTU “KhPI” consistently implements a practice-oriented training system based on effective partnership with industrial companies.

The new model of cooperation between universities and enterprises is the switch off from formal partnership to pure integration of education, science and production. These are no longer one-time practices or concluded memoranda, but a full-fledged system of interaction in which programs of study, research topics and personnel training are formed together with employers.

The essence of this model is to create a single educational and production space, where the student receives not only knowledge, but also an understanding of real technological processes, modern equipment, safety standards, economic and management decisions. Education becomes practice-oriented, and the university is an active participant in the economy development, and not just a supplier of personnel.

“Our task is to train a new type of engineer: not a narrow-minded performer, but a specialist, able to think systematically, create technologies, work in a team and make decisions in conditions of uncertainty”

Today, NTU “KhPI”, like all polytechnic universities, must develop in the direction of deep digitalization of the educational process, implementation of cross-disciplinary educational programs, development of a dual form of education and academic-production clusters. Our task is to train a new type of engineer: not a narrow-minded performer, but a specialist, able to think systematically, create technologies, work in a team and make decisions in conditions of uncertainty.

For NTU “KhPI”, cooperation with Energoatom is a guarantee of constant updating of educational content; and for the company, it is an effective tool for training young specialists, possessing the necessary competencies at the start and understand the specifics of production and corporate culture of the industry.

In the current conditions of reconstruction of Ukraine, this model has not only educational, but also state significance: it contributes to the formation of human resources for the country energy security, ensures the continuity of scientific schools and increases the prestige of engineering professions among young people.

– How does KhPI develop a partnership with Energoatom in the field of dual education and individual curricula, which provide for the employment of senior students at nuclear power plants or other enterprises of NNEGC? How does the University assess the prospects and challenges of further implementation of this practice?

– NTU “KhPI” considers the dual form of education as a key tool for training a new generation of specialists who combine fundamental knowledge with real production experience. Within the framework of cooperation with JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”, NTU “KhPI” is implementing a system that allows senior students to undergo part of the educational process directly at the base of power industry enterprises.

“For NTU “KhPI”, cooperation with Energoatom is a guarantee of constant updating of educational content; and for the company, it is an effective tool for training young specialists, possessing the necessary competencies at the start and understand the specifics of production and corporate culture of the industry”

Individual programs of study are developed in such a way as to combine classroom training with production practices, internships and participation in joint projects. This allows students to gain practical experience of working on modern equipment, understand technological processes and safety requirements, and for enterprises, to evaluate potential employees even before their graduation.

Among the main advantages of this model are a reduction in the adaptation period for young specialists, improving the quality of personnel training and creating conditions for continuous professional development.

At the same time, NTU “KhPI” is also aware of the challenges: the need to coordinate training schedules with production cycles, train mentors at enterprises, and ensure proper coordination between all parties to the process.

Despite the complexity of implementation, the dual form of education demonstrates high potential. This is not only an effective form of training, but also a strategic model for a succession pipeline in the country energy sector. NTU “KhPI” sees the prospect of further expanding this practice, in particular through the establishment of joint training and production centers, the development of new individual programs and attracting more students to dual training formats.

– NTU “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” is among the leaders of technical education in Ukraine, in which one of the main directions concerns energy, electronics, electromechanics. How positive are the results of this year admission campaign for specialties related specifically to nuclear energy at KhPI?

– The 2025 admission campaign confirmed the leading positions of NTU “KhPI” among technical universities in Ukraine. By the total number of recommendations for the budget, our university entered the TOP 6 higher education institutions of Ukraine and took first place among Kharkiv universities – both at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

In particular, indicative there are results in areas that train specialists for nuclear industry. In total, this year, 682 students (427 bachelors and 255 masters) were enrolled in NTU “KhPI”, in specialties that are key ones for the activities of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”.

This result is evidence of a high level of trust in the University, the stability of educational programs and the demand for our graduates in strategic sectors of the economy.

– Does KhPI plan to expand the list of educational programs in engineering specialties related to nuclear indistry?

– Yes, NTU “KhPI’ is consistently expanding its educational horizons in power sector. Currently, the University possesses a powerful base for ensuring engineer training – from electrical and thermal power engineering to automation, measurement technologies and mechanical engineering. Nevertheless, modern power industry is changing rapidly, so we are consciously moving towards creating new educational tracks that combine classical technical disciplines with digital solutions, cybersecurity, data analytics and system management.

“In total, this year, 682 students were enrolled in NTU “KhPI”, in specialties that are key ones for the activities of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”

The goal is not only to open new specialties, but also to form a modern type of energy education: cross-disciplinary, flexible and practically oriented. We are aimed at future engineers to understand not only the technological component of power systems, but also the principles of sustainable development, safety, risk management and responsible use of energy.

NTU “KhPI” sees prospects in combining power with an IT component, automated control systems, materials science and new energy conservation technologies. This is a direction that makes it possible to train a new generation of engineer – specialist who not only maintains the system resilience, but also creates solutions for the energy sector of the future.