Collaboration offers Ghanaian students nuclear education opportunity in Russia

2020 started off on the right foot for three Ghanaian universities which have been selected to work with Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) to help Ghanaian upcoming engineers, physicists, doctors and researchers. Namely, the selected universities are the University of Ghana, Kumasi Technical University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Energy and Natural Resources.  

“The goal of the scholarships is to support interest in nuclear research and capabilities among young African scientists and engineers. This will contribute to solving some of the world’s most critical issues in the nearest future, allowing for the continent to industrialize, boost its economy and become self-sufficient,” said the interim CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, Ryan Collyer. The tuition fees for the scholarships will be funded by the Russian Ministry of Higher Education &  Science.  

TPU is the only Russian university equipped with an IRT-T nuclear research reactor available for foreign students to conduct research and experiments. In over 60 years, more than 12,000 specialists have graduated from TPU, including 8,000 trained in nuclear engineering and research.

 The nuclear education programmes are supported by Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom. According to Valery Karezin, Director of Educational Projects and Human Resources at Rosatom, “About 300 students from more than 15 African countries are already studying nuclear specialities in Russia. We also contribute to the development of higher education in the field, strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions in Russia and Africa,”.

The students have access to subsidized accommodation, library funds and practical experience at Russian nuclear enterprises. Director of School of Nuclear Science and Engineering at TPU, Oleg Dolmatov said he is excited about the new partnership.“They will have our support in granting Russia-funded scholarships that include tuition fees to Ghanaian students interested in studying nuclear energy-related fields in Russia,” said Dolmatov.