Seven students of the Almaty branch of MEPhI are graduating this year. This is the first graduation at the new university, which was opened on the initiative of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin. Kirill Kharlamov, the correspondent of MIR 24, visited the educational institution.

The first graduates studied under the Bachelor's degree program in Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmophysics. In total, MEPhI has more than 170 students. In the future, they all plan to work in the nuclear industry of Kazakhstan.

Graduates Artyom, Alexandra and Ksenia warmly remember all the teachers. Their training took place according to the "3 plus 1" system: they received knowledge for three years in Almaty and a year in Moscow.

"My internship took place at the scientific and educational center "Seine". This is a laboratory located on the MEPhI campus. And during my internship, I was engaged in my scientific work — processing data from our Tien Shan space station," says Ksenia Vorobyova, a 4th-year student of nuclear physics and technology at the Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmophysics educational program.

And freshman Armand has yet to learn about all the nuances of the profession. In the future, he wants not only to work at a nuclear power plant, but also to manage it. I chose my profession consciously in my life.

"Of course, I have to understand how the reactor itself works, its details, and provide first aid in emergency situations. In any case, you, the one who works in your specialty, should know the nuclear power plant inside and out. Right down to where the steam goes, where the water is taken for cooling, which class of reactor, and so on," said Arman Smagul, a 1st–year student of nuclear physics and technology at the educational program "Operation of Nuclear Power Plants."

In 2022, at the initiative of the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia, an agreement on the establishment of a branch was signed between the universities in Almaty as part of the development of partnership in the field of nuclear energy and physics. It was opened on the basis of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Students gain knowledge in atomic and related applied sciences. These areas are currently among the most promising.

"When there was talk here that we need to develop our nuclear industry, we need to provide personnel who have very good, strong competence. Who has such extensive experience in the school–university–industry relationship? This is, respectively, MEPhI," said Aliya Aldiyarova, Head of the Department for Reception, Educational and Information and Communication Activities of the Almaty Branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

Kazakhstan is interested in highly qualified specialists for the nuclear industry. In the next 10 years, Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant will be built in the country. And it will be serviced, among others, by graduates of the Almaty MEPhI.

A video about the Kazakh branch of MEPhI can be viewed here.