On December 12, Obninsk hosted the closing ceremony of the InteRussia fellowship program in Nuclear Technologies, implemented with the support of Rosatom. Participants of the program were young specialists from Argentina, Bolivia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.
The program was aimed at providing fellows with a comprehensive overview of key Russian nuclear technologies and their practical application across various fields: in energy, medicine, agriculture, and industry. In three cities — Moscow, St. Petersburg and Obninsk — they learned about the main principles of emerging nuclear industry countries when it comes to forming a national position, studied modern methods and tools for effective energy planning, and discussed technological solutions and issues related to the operation of large-capacity NPPs and small modular reactors. Particular attention was paid to the non-energy-sector applications of peaceful nuclear energy for achieving sustainable development goals.
One of the important components of the fellowship was the opportunity to understand the scope of the Russian nuclear industry through in-person technical tours. Participants visited the Leningrad NPP-2 with its modern Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors, where they were shown the control room, turbine, turbine generator unit, and cooling towers for the secondary circuit condensers. In Obninsk, they visited the world's first nuclear power plant, located at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, and learned about best practices in nuclear medicine and the use of radiation technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer at the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Center.
“Train-the-Trainers is a format that facilitates the practical transfer of nuclear education. Participants of the program not only explore modern practices in the field, but also reflect on them and adapt them according to the national priorities of their countries. The program shapes a professional community that is able to independently develop effective educational solutions and foster international cooperation in the nuclear field,” says Irina Sarkisyan, Head of the Nuclear Education Transfer Project Office, Rosatom Technical Academy.
Another part of the program was devoted to studying current industry solutions and management approaches. At a meeting with Maria Oseeva, Head of International Projects in the field of Nuclear Technologies at Rosatom International Network, the participants analyzed long-term scenarios of the nuclear industry development in countries with different levels of existing infrastructure.
“The InteRussia fellowship in Nuclear Technologies significantly contributes to the creation of a responsible and professional international community working in one of the most complex and knowledge-intensive modern industries. The program couples lectures and seminars with hands-on technical tours to facilities and open dialogue with leading Russian experts, thereby laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy,” shares Victoria Karslieva, Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Fund.
The final part of the fellowship included the preparation and defense of country reports. The fellows presented an overview of the state of the nuclear industry in their countries and identified promising areas for development. In addition, they shared how they planned to use this experience and apply the knowledge gained during the program.
“The InteRussia fellowship gave me a deep understanding of the diversity of modern nuclear technologies. The visit to the Leningrad NPP allowed me to see firsthand the high standards of operation of large energy facilities, and the visit to the Obninsk NPP gave me the opportunity to connect the very origins of world’s nuclear energy. Thanks to the participation of specialists from different countries and fields, we established strong professional contacts, which will serve as a basis for further cooperation,” notes Asadbek Yusup Ugly Abdiadizov, Leading Specialist at the Design Department of the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate of Uzatom Agency.
“This program is bigger than an educational project — it is a growing global nuclear community that brings people together, allows to form professional connections, and this community is born here in Russia, at the center of its advanced nuclear technologies. And this is not a plot of a science fiction story — this is the InteRussia fellowship, organized by the Gorchakov Fund and Rosatom Technical Academy, a vivid example of how nuclear diplomacy works,” shares Natasha Pavićević, Head of the Nuclear Department, SIGMA GROUP a.s.
“For me, participation in the InteRussia fellowship was a truly transformative experience that broadened my professional understanding of modern nuclear technologies, and Russia’s role in their development. High level of professional expertise on part of Rosatom’s specialists, a thought through educational program, and in-person technical tours, including to the Leningrad NPP, helped us to form a comprehensive understanding of Russia’s nuclear solutions. Just as valuable was the opportunity to work in an international group in an atmosphere of open dialogue, cultivated by thoughtful organisation. The InteRussia fellowship is a great example of how professional education can promote stronger international cooperation,” explains Dennis Solomon Balami, Nuclear Research Fellows at the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research and Training, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri.
The InteRussia fellowship program in nuclear technologies is implemented by ANO Mezhdunarodniki together with the Gorchakov Fund, with the support of the ABS Electro Charitable Foundation and the Presidential Grants Foundation. The main partner on behalf of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation is ANO DPO Rosatom Technical Academy as part of the Train-the-Trainers project.
Train-the-Trainers courses are held regularly by Rosatom Technical Academy as part of Rosatom State Corporation's project International Cooperation in Nuclear Education. The courses cover a wide range of topics: from electricity generation at nuclear power plants of large and small capacity to the irradiation of medical materials and agricultural products, the creation of modern radiopharmaceuticals at research reactors, and the development of modern systems and equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The courses aim to pass on nuclear education — to promote the transfer of expertise in teaching students about nuclear and radiation technologies to partner countries.
More about InteRussia.
More about the Train-the-Trainers project.
The program was aimed at providing fellows with a comprehensive overview of key Russian nuclear technologies and their practical application across various fields: in energy, medicine, agriculture, and industry. In three cities — Moscow, St. Petersburg and Obninsk — they learned about the main principles of emerging nuclear industry countries when it comes to forming a national position, studied modern methods and tools for effective energy planning, and discussed technological solutions and issues related to the operation of large-capacity NPPs and small modular reactors. Particular attention was paid to the non-energy-sector applications of peaceful nuclear energy for achieving sustainable development goals.
One of the important components of the fellowship was the opportunity to understand the scope of the Russian nuclear industry through in-person technical tours. Participants visited the Leningrad NPP-2 with its modern Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors, where they were shown the control room, turbine, turbine generator unit, and cooling towers for the secondary circuit condensers. In Obninsk, they visited the world's first nuclear power plant, located at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, and learned about best practices in nuclear medicine and the use of radiation technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer at the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Center.
“Train-the-Trainers is a format that facilitates the practical transfer of nuclear education. Participants of the program not only explore modern practices in the field, but also reflect on them and adapt them according to the national priorities of their countries. The program shapes a professional community that is able to independently develop effective educational solutions and foster international cooperation in the nuclear field,” says Irina Sarkisyan, Head of the Nuclear Education Transfer Project Office, Rosatom Technical Academy.
Another part of the program was devoted to studying current industry solutions and management approaches. At a meeting with Maria Oseeva, Head of International Projects in the field of Nuclear Technologies at Rosatom International Network, the participants analyzed long-term scenarios of the nuclear industry development in countries with different levels of existing infrastructure.
“The InteRussia fellowship in Nuclear Technologies significantly contributes to the creation of a responsible and professional international community working in one of the most complex and knowledge-intensive modern industries. The program couples lectures and seminars with hands-on technical tours to facilities and open dialogue with leading Russian experts, thereby laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy,” shares Victoria Karslieva, Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Fund.
The final part of the fellowship included the preparation and defense of country reports. The fellows presented an overview of the state of the nuclear industry in their countries and identified promising areas for development. In addition, they shared how they planned to use this experience and apply the knowledge gained during the program.
“The InteRussia fellowship gave me a deep understanding of the diversity of modern nuclear technologies. The visit to the Leningrad NPP allowed me to see firsthand the high standards of operation of large energy facilities, and the visit to the Obninsk NPP gave me the opportunity to connect the very origins of world’s nuclear energy. Thanks to the participation of specialists from different countries and fields, we established strong professional contacts, which will serve as a basis for further cooperation,” notes Asadbek Yusup Ugly Abdiadizov, Leading Specialist at the Design Department of the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate of Uzatom Agency.
“This program is bigger than an educational project — it is a growing global nuclear community that brings people together, allows to form professional connections, and this community is born here in Russia, at the center of its advanced nuclear technologies. And this is not a plot of a science fiction story — this is the InteRussia fellowship, organized by the Gorchakov Fund and Rosatom Technical Academy, a vivid example of how nuclear diplomacy works,” shares Natasha Pavićević, Head of the Nuclear Department, SIGMA GROUP a.s.
“For me, participation in the InteRussia fellowship was a truly transformative experience that broadened my professional understanding of modern nuclear technologies, and Russia’s role in their development. High level of professional expertise on part of Rosatom’s specialists, a thought through educational program, and in-person technical tours, including to the Leningrad NPP, helped us to form a comprehensive understanding of Russia’s nuclear solutions. Just as valuable was the opportunity to work in an international group in an atmosphere of open dialogue, cultivated by thoughtful organisation. The InteRussia fellowship is a great example of how professional education can promote stronger international cooperation,” explains Dennis Solomon Balami, Nuclear Research Fellows at the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research and Training, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri.
The InteRussia fellowship program in nuclear technologies is implemented by ANO Mezhdunarodniki together with the Gorchakov Fund, with the support of the ABS Electro Charitable Foundation and the Presidential Grants Foundation. The main partner on behalf of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation is ANO DPO Rosatom Technical Academy as part of the Train-the-Trainers project.
Train-the-Trainers courses are held regularly by Rosatom Technical Academy as part of Rosatom State Corporation's project International Cooperation in Nuclear Education. The courses cover a wide range of topics: from electricity generation at nuclear power plants of large and small capacity to the irradiation of medical materials and agricultural products, the creation of modern radiopharmaceuticals at research reactors, and the development of modern systems and equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The courses aim to pass on nuclear education — to promote the transfer of expertise in teaching students about nuclear and radiation technologies to partner countries.
More about InteRussia.
More about the Train-the-Trainers project.
