Modern specialists face lots of requirements — they must understand the latest technologies, speak English, be able to negotiate with customers. The Higher Engineering School of MEPhI is preparing such professionals for ASE — system engineers, physicists, designers, programmers and technologists-designers.

HES MEPhI was founded in 2017 as a pilot project to train specialists in new professions who are necessary for the digital transformation of the industry. Educational modules were to help students to easily join the ASE teams working on the design and construction of nuclear facilities during the training. It was how the first master's program "Engineers for the digital future" appeared, which accepted 20 people.

Students began working in ASE from the first days of training, most — in the block of system engineering and IT. “Within the pilot master's program, five project teams, four students of different specialties each, solve practical problems of the company under the guidance of mentors from ASE. Their work should end not only with the introduction of solutions, but also with the emergence of new digital competencies in the engineering company”, says senior vice president for the development of ASE Ivan Borisov.

Part of the modules is held at MEPhI, another part – on the site of ASE. All programs involve intensive language training. “Every week the engineering division employees give lectures to students in English. Knowledge of a foreign language is a prerequisite for working in a company focused on the foreign marke”, says Maria Ganchenkova, Director of HES MEPhI. “Our common task with partners from ASE is to prepare specialists in different areas who can work in a team. Among the popular modules are system engineering, digital platforms, machine learning, BIM. In 2018, we plan to recruit 40 people, including a new master's program Data ASE, which includes three profiles of training — Data Analytics, Data Science, Data Engineering. In the future, we plan to become a platform for cooperation with Russian and foreign universities, as well as technological partners to improve the level of training of engineers working on the design, construction and operation of complex high-tech facilities”.

“In relation to the development of digital technologies, employers need universal specialists with knowledge in various fields”, says Natalya Shafalovich, director for personnel and organizational development of ASE. “For example, the designer should prepare project documentation in a digital model, understand the supply chain and know the main suppliers of equipment, be able to advice in the mode of supervision at the construction site of the facility. Therefore, we are changing the approach to personnel management with the development of digital competencies”.

By the way, HES MEPhI plans to be engaged in retraining of specialists: programs of additional education for 300 people per year should be launched in 2019. This year, trial courses will start. In addition to ASE, Atomenergomash, RASU, Rosenergoatom and a number of companies outside the industry are interested in training of "digital" specialists.

Alexander Shamanin, Chief specialist of information and analytical management, ASE:

- Together with a group of master degree students we are working on the integration of computer-aided design of electrical circuits E3.Series and ETAP short circuit current calculation complex. The problem is that today the specialists who perform the design of electrical systems and verification calculations of schemes often work in different programs and even are at different sites. It decrease productivity. Creating of integration solutions will allow to reduce terms of execution of the verification calculations. At the end of last year, undergraduates made a technical task and detailed architecture, this year they will test their solution in practice. We are conducting trainings from September 2017 weekly: every Friday is dedicated to project work, but other days the mentors are always ready to help young professionals with any questions.

Evgeny Chebotarev, Chief expert of the unit for system engineering and IT, ASE:

— As a mentor, I am working with students on the creation of a program that will automate the calculation of parameters of ventilation systems of nuclear power plants and the collection of initial data. In the end, we plan to get a universal information system, which will carry out a variety of calculations. At the same time, it will be integrated with the information model of the design object. Now we are at the stage of development of the calculation module — the core of the system. I believe that the model of learning in HES MEPhI is an advanced approach to education. If you look at the experience of our foreign colleagues, the last courses of the University are highly devoted to training with practicing experts. This is a great opportunity for a young specialist not only to start using his knowledge as soon as possible, but also to smoothly join the working mode after graduation.

Valentina Kamitova, engineer, ASE:

- I receive education in the direction of "Nuclear physics and technology". All my expectations are met: interesting lectures, talented classmates, and since 2018 I am a full-time employee in ASE. The joint MEPhI and ASE master's program helped to make a huge career step. Module on public speaking was one of the most unusual. At first, almost none of us took it seriously, but then we realized that it is very useful in the work. This year I look forward to practice at the Rostov NPP. There, in the Volgodonsk branch of MEPhI, we will be lectured.

Vitaliy Vazhinsky, engineer, ASE:

– I'm studying to be a systems engineer. I have been working full-time in ASE since February 2018. It is very interesting to learn from real professionals and even now to use the knowledge in business: each of us participates in three or five projects of the engineering company at once. Last year we were offered to pass the certification module on project management at ASE. This training was optional, outside the master's program, during the holidays. Of course, I could not miss this opportunity. The week was busy: we studied every day from 9:00 to 17:00, after which we passed the exam and received international certificates.

Ivan Homyakov, engineer, ASE:

— I graduated from MEPhI bachelor's degree in Applied mathematics, had an internship at NIKIET and even took part in the international ITER project. I thought what to do next. Everyone was talking about the fact that a new master's program is being created in conjunction with ASE, where part of the classes are held in English and part of the lectures are read by specialists of the company. I chose HES MEPhI, thinking that it would be much more interesting than the traditional master's program. I passed the selection, now I study in the direction of "Software engineering". When I arrived, I thought that we will work more on international communications and English. That's partly true. We gain theoretical knowledge at HES MEPhI and  are actively involved in the development of new tools and modernization of existing ones for designers of ASE.