September 3, 2019, a grand opening of the branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhI) was held in Tashkent.
The ceremony was attended by Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of ROSATOM, Alisher Sultanov, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Behzod Yuldashev, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mikhail Strikhanov, Rector of NRNU MEPhI, senior Government officials of the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of the Agency for the Development of Nuclear Energy Uzatom, ROSATOM and other guests of honor.
Opening of MEPhI branch in Tashkent is a vivid illustration of the gradual development of the relationship between Uzbekistan and Russia. Students will be able to receive education based on the best modern programs here. This University is recognized both in Russia and on the international level. All graduates of the branch will receive a Russian diploma recognized in Uzbekistan and abroad, and will be provided with jobs at domestic nuclear enterprises.
The Director General of ROSATOM expressed confidence that opening of the MEPhI branch will contribute to the development of personnel training program of high quality for the purposes of the national nuclear industry development. “The construction of the first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan is a large-scale project, the implementation of which is undoubtedly impossible without human resources development. Personnel training is the basis for the successful development of the nuclear industry in the country, and we are pleased that our cooperation with our Uzbek colleagues in this field is developing so successfully”, Alexei Likhachev said.
After the solemn speeches, the guests cut the symbolic ribbon, thus marking the opening of the first foreign branch. Then the ceremony participants visited the classrooms and modern laboratories of the new campus, where the country’s future nuclear scientists will study. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of ROSATOM, met the first students in an informal setting and wished them success in their studies. Behzod Yuldashev, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Mikhail Strikhanov, Rector of NRNU MEPhI, gave the first students a lecture on the history of the best “atomic” university in Russia.
The idea of a branch opening belongs to Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The main activities of the new university include the training of highly qualified engineers and technicians in nuclear energy and thermal physics, as well as fundamental and applied scientific research in nuclear physics. Along with Uzbek specialists, highly qualified Russian teachers with many years of experience in teaching at leading universities of the Russian Federation and foreign countries are involved in the educational process. Thanks to distance learning students will be also able to listen to lectures provided by the world’s experts. Representatives of the IAEA and specialists of ROSATOM will become one of the first lecturers. The first 100 students have already successfully passed the exams and will soon begin training on the new campus. The education is state-funded.
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The branch of National Research Nuclear University MEPhI in Tashkent was established based on the agreement between the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Russia as part of the NPP construction project in Uzbekistan. In September 2018, the two Governments signed an Agreement on cooperation in construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The project envisages the construction of two VVER-1200 power units. The site near Lake Tuzkan in Jizzakh region was selected as the priority NPP construction site. Since 2018, 56 students from Uzbekistan are studying at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhI) in the capital of Russia (on quotas of the university and ROSATOM). What is more, the specialists of the Agency for the Development of Nuclear Energy Uzatom, the State Committee for Industrial Safety of Uzbekistan and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan are taking short and medium-term refresher courses and internships in the sphere of nuclear energy and nuclear technology. Uzbekistan is enhancing cooperation in the sphere of professional training for the nuclear energy sector. It has signed memoranda of cooperation with Belorussia, World Nuclear University and other international organizations.
