Ukraine's energy sector is facing its most challenging period in the past eighty years. The very concept of providing the country with electricity and heat is undergoing fundamental transformation. New advanced technologies for energy generation—including distributed generation—along with modern approaches to energy transmission, energy efficiency, and energy storage are becoming increasingly important.
Working with these technologies requires specialists who possess comprehensive knowledge and practical skills not only in power engineering but also in related interdisciplinary fields. To help address this demand, the Educational and Research Institute of Nuclear and Thermal Energy has recently introduced a new interdisciplinary bachelor's degree program, G4+G7 "Computerized Technologies and Engineering of Thermal Power Systems".
The Computerized Technologies and Engineering of Thermal Power Systems program combines the competencies and learning outcomes of students pursuing engineering education in the fields of Energy Production. Thermal Power Engineering and Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies, and Robotics. Accordingly, instruction is provided jointly by two departments of the Educational and Research Institute of Nuclear and Thermal Energy: the Department of Thermal and Alternative Energy and the Department of Automation of Energy Processes. The program was developed by a joint project team consisting of faculty members from both departments in response to the labor market's growing demand for specialists with broader competencies in the field of energy efficiency.
The need to establish this interdisciplinary educational program has been driven by real-world developments. First and foremost, it reflects the situation in Ukraine's energy sector, which has suffered extensive damage to energy infrastructure as a result of the terrorist attacks carried out by the Russian aggressor. According to a study by the Office of Financial and Economic Analysis of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the total employment potential in the field of building energy efficiency is estimated at nearly 1,135 positions for energy auditors (on an annual basis) and almost 465,000 jobs across all sectors of the Ukrainian economy related to the thermal modernization of public buildings and multi-apartment residential buildings. This estimate does not even include the demand for specialists responsible for the operation and maintenance of energy-efficient equipment and engineering systems in residential, public, and industrial facilities. Moreover, the relevance of the Computerized Technologies and Engineering of Thermal Power Systems program is driven by profound structural changes in both Ukraine's and the global energy sectors. Modern thermal power engineering is rapidly evolving under the influence of digitalization, decarbonization, the integration of renewable energy sources, intelligent control systems, and increasingly stringent energy efficiency requirements.
The distinctive features of the new educational program were presented to Kyiv Polytechnic by Vitalii Peshko, Acting Head of the Department of Thermal and Alternative Energy, and Volodymyr Voloshchuk, Head of the Department of Automation of Energy Processes.
"The labor market increasingly demands a new type of specialist who possesses not only fundamental knowledge of thermal power engineering but also competencies in automation, information technologies, computer modeling, data analysis, and the management of complex cyber-physical systems," says Vitalii Peshko. "Today, traditional narrow-profile education no longer fully meets modern challenges, whereas an interdisciplinary approach enables students to develop a comprehensive understanding of energy processes and provides graduates with greater flexibility in the labor market."
According to Volodymyr Voloshchuk, combining the specialties Energy Production. Thermal Power Engineering and Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies, and Robotics within a single educational program prepares specialists capable of performing a wide range of essential professional tasks, including: designing, automating, and operating thermal energy systems, including distributed generation solutions (cogeneration and renewable energy sources); implementing digital technologies in the energy sector (SCADA, Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), Smart Grid, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twins); energy modeling, energy auditing, and energy efficiency management; and operating energy equipment alongside modern software, hardware, and robotic s "This program will become particularly relevant during Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, when the demand for specialists capable of participating in the restoration and modernization of the country's energy infrastructure, implementing energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies, and reconstructing buildings and industrial facilities in accordance with European standards is expected to grow. The program's alignment with labor market needs is confirmed by the active involvement of industry stakeholders in its development and by their support for students' practical training at enterprises. In other words, there is already strong demand for graduates even while they are still completing their studies," is the shared view of the heads of both departments.
The interdisciplinary educational program Computerized Technologies and Engineering of Thermal Energy Systems is therefore designed to prepare highly competitive specialists capable of working effectively at the intersection of thermal power engineering, automation, and digital technologies. Its graduates will benefit from a wide range of career opportunities thanks to their integrated expertise in thermal power engineering, information technologies, automation, and energy efficiency.
What also makes this educational program unique is its curriculum, which includes specialized courses in the field of energy efficiency developed by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) with the involvement of national and international experts. These courses cover the design of photovoltaic systems and heat pump systems, quality control in the construction of energy-efficient buildings, energy-efficient district heating systems and Smart Building technologies, digital energy monitoring and energy management systems, and, of course, cogeneration systems for resilient energy supply, which are particularly relevant under current circumstances.
It is also worth noting that the program makes use of the facilities and resources of the Decarbonization of Energy Scientific and Educational Center – the Energy Innovation Hub of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. This enables students to work with state-of-the-art measuring instruments and energy equipment, as well as to participate in research projects alongside the university's scientists.
Vitalii Peshko and Volodymyr Voloshchuk also shared their views on the employment prospects for the program's graduates. These prospects are driven by the current shortage of power engineers, specialists in the implementation of energy-efficient solutions, and operators of automated control systems in energy generation companies. At the same time, employers are actively seeking automation engineers, designers of energy-efficient systems, specialists in renewable energy systems, and energy management professionals. Graduates who gain strong expertise in the Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies, and Robotics specialization will also find opportunities in IT companies, which are in need of software developers for SCADA systems, engineers responsible for implementing digital technologies in the energy sector, and related professionals. There is also strong demand for such multidisciplinary specialists within central and local government institutions, including departments responsible for energy, energy management, environmental protection, and construction. These organizations require energy efficiency consultants, environmental monitoring specialists, and energy management professionals.
It is worth noting that the new educational program provides comprehensive training in modern digital solutions for thermal power engineering while equipping students with skills in intelligent data analysis for the energy sector. The program focuses on energy efficiency management in thermal power engineering through the application of advanced approaches to energy modeling, automated control systems, and the development of digital twins of energy facilities. The curriculum is delivered with the participation of industry stakeholders and experts, including the Energy Auditors Association, RSE, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Viessmann, iC Consulenten, Danfoss, the School of Energy Efficiency NGO, Bosch, HERZ Ukraine, the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre, and others.
Students complete their practical training at partner enterprises, where they participate in joint projects commissioned by public institutions and leading companies in the energy sector. This enables them to reinforce their theoretical knowledge and acquire practical skills throughout their studies. They also have opportunities to participate in specialized summer schools on energy, student research groups, and international Erasmus educational projects, including UNICITY and COIL-SERENADE.
According to Volodymyr Voloshchuk, the program's core courses include Computer Graphics, Information and Measurement Systems, Fundamentals of Automation and Robotics, Automatic Control Theory, Automation Systems Design, Software and Hardware Systems for Automation, and Engineering Thermodynamics, among others.
Vitalii Peshko adds that students will also study Heat and Mass Transfer, Technologies for Thermal and Electrical Energy Generation, Energy Systems Based on Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources, Engineering of Intelligent Thermal Energy Systems, Energy Modeling of Engineering Networks and Systems, and Energy Efficiency Management of Thermal Energy Systems.
Prospective students can therefore look forward to a challenging yet rewarding educational experience and, upon graduation, to excellent career opportunities.