Students of Paks II. Academy during operations class at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. From right: Ferenc Molnár and László Fekti

– Demand for energy is constantly growing, it is important to react to this trend. This can be only met with nuclear energy – highlighted László Fekti. This professional, who graduated as a mechanical engineer and facility operations engineer is currently the student of Paks II. Academy, financed by Paks II. Ltd. at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Regarding the nuclear power plant operation engineer course he said: it is very positive, that the project company coordinating the construction of the two new NPP units, invests such a great amount of energy, time and money to train specialists and offer them career options.

Since September 2019, the specialist training course for nuclear power plant operation engineer based on initial training is available. Paks II. Ltd. in cooperation with six institutions - the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the University of Pécs, the University of Debrecen, the University of Pannonia, the University of Miskolc and the University of Dunaújváros - created the Paks II. Academy. The universities started the program with the financial support of the company, which means that the training is free of charge for the students, up to the given number of students. Four of the six universities started their training in September 2019, and two of them started cross-semester studies in February 2020 – informed István Mittler, Communications Director of Paks II. Ltd. 

During the two semesters of the specialization the students can gain basic knowledge of the technological details of the nuclear power plant, the operation process and the basics of nuclear safety. BME played a key role in creating the curriculum. Dr. Szabolcs Czifrus, director of the Nuclear Institute of the Technical University, said that the physics and technical design of nuclear reactors are a very important element of the training. Reactor physics, thermo-hydraulics, nuclear safety - all of these have been taught centrally at the BME since 1970, which also has a training reactor. That is why we have committed ourselves to work together in the preparation of the training and the development of the related curriculum – said Szabolcs Czifrus.

Dr. Szabolcs Czifrus, docent of BME teaches reactor operations 

Thirty students attend this training at BME. Among them is Ferenc Molnár, an electrical engineer and economist, who has been interested in nuclear energy for decades. – Even my first thesis was about nuclear energy back in 1987. Nuclear power plant technology is a cutting-edge technology, but the climate-friendly nuclear power also plays a key role in the security of supply – he emphasized. He added that the teaching method and the curriculum provided for the preparation are both good, he is pleased to have joined the training.

Pál Magusics is currently studying at the University of Pécs. – Although I have been dealing with large solar power plants for 3-4 years, I keep an eye on Paks II. project. "I think nuclear power is the long-term investment in the future, so I decided to attend this training even through self-financing," he said.

There was a significant over-application at all universities. Keeping this in mind, Paks II. Ltd. decided to continue Paks II. Academy and raise the limit, said István Mittler, the company's Communications Director.

István Mittler, Communications Director of Paks II. Ltd.

– Our company reviewed the previous semester and we decided the add a seventh university next to the current six, the University of Óbuda, and we also increase the limit of the students. We need highly educated professionals for the investment of our century, thus Paks II. Ltd. is doing everything it can, to let our current and future employees improve their knowledge through high quality training – said István Mittler.