Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Participants in Uzbekistan’s National Youth Nuclear Dialogue in Tashkent have proposed expanding practical training opportunities for future nuclear industry specialists, including short-term internships, wider access to nuclear power plant training simulators and a unified information resource on nuclear technologies.
The dialogue was held as part of the international Impact Team 2050 initiative. Participants included students, young researchers, representatives of industry organisations, relevant government agencies, universities and youth associations.
Following an open discussion with industry leaders, participants continued their deliberations in working groups. They addressed education, career opportunities, professional guidance, regional infrastructure and public attitudes towards nuclear energy.
One of the main topics was how students could gain practical experience while still studying.
“Participants proposed mini-internships lasting two to four weeks. This format would allow students to reinforce their theoretical knowledge through practical work and become familiar with the operations of relevant organisations. Young people also want to gain this experience abroad, directly at nuclear power plants. I heard similar requests before completing my bachelor's degree, and I continue to hear them today. In my view, this shows that young people are interested in professional development and gaining practical experience,” said Mukhiddin Umidov, a member of the Impact Team 2050 International Youth Advisory Council.
Another proposal was to give students from other engineering universities access to training simulators at the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.
Participants also discussed access to information about nuclear careers for young people in Uzbekistan’s regions. According to Umidov, they raised questions about introducing young people to the industry and providing opportunities for practical experience. He cited career guidance meetings with school students and young people in Jizzakh as an example, stressing the need to expand such activities.
Improving awareness of nuclear professions among young people was another priority. Participants proposed creating a unified information resource featuring industry news and technical information, alongside using social media to explain complex topics in more accessible language.
During the open session, Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev highlighted the need to train specialists for Uzbekistan’s developing nuclear energy sector.
“Today, Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy sector is at a crucial stage. We are building a high-tech industry that is entirely new to the country: launching large-scale infrastructure projects, expanding international cooperation and simultaneously establishing a national workforce training system. But behind every technology are people,” Akhmedkhadjaev said.
Participants submitted their proposals through group discussions and an online survey. Organisers are now consolidating the findings and recommendations.
“We have the online survey responses and presentations from the working groups. We are carefully reviewing the collected information to identify the main proposals. It is important for us to take young people’s views into account and identify the barriers they have highlighted. Based on this work, we plan to develop recommendations for expanding young people’s professional opportunities and raising awareness of nuclear energy,” Umidov said.
The proposals from Uzbekistan are expected to be incorporated into the overall Impact Team 2050 roadmap. The document is intended to bring together the outcomes of youth nuclear dialogues in different countries and recommendations for addressing barriers to pursuing careers in the nuclear sector.
The roadmap is scheduled to be presented to Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference COP31, which will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November.