Three key Ghanaian universities and Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) will start working together to help upcoming engineers, physicists, doctors and researchers from Ghana to receive Master’s and postgraduate education in nuclear subjects in Russia. The tuition fees for the full duration of education will be funded by the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
The nuclear education programmes are supported by Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom. “About 300 students from more than 15 African countries are already studying nuclear specialties in Russia. We also contribute to the development of higher education in the field, strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions in Russia and Africa,” said Valery Karezin, director of Educational Projects and Human Resources at Rosatom.
“We are happy to see among our partners University of Ghana, Kumasi Technical University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Energy and Natural Resources, who implement nuclear education programmes. 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. Students have access to subsidised accommodation, library funds and practical experience at Russian nuclear enterprises,” Director of School of Nuclear Science and Engineering at TPU, Oleg Dolmatov said.
To date, nine students are studying nuclear subjects at Masters and postgraduate level at TPU. Director General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Professor Nyarko expressed the interest of Ghana to cooperate with Rosatom, both in training personnel and developing human resources, as well as in joint projects to ensure public acceptability of nuclear projects in Ghana.
“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 industrialise, boost its economy and become self-sufficient,” said the interim CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, Ryan Collyer.
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. TPU offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Nuclear Physics and Technology; a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Power Installations Operation, Nuclear Medicine; and a Postgraduate Degree in Nuclear, Thermal and Renewable Energy and Related Technologies, all conducted in English language.
