The main intention of this project “Partnership for Distance Nuclear Education – removing social barriers Through new Technology” is to design, to build and to carry out distance experimental nuclear education and exercises complementary to the theoretical lectures in nuclear engineering. Experimental and hands-on experience is necessary to obtain the high quality and complete nuclear education but the access to research reactors is limited due to several reasons. The number of participants in the reactor hall or in the control room is usually limited due to security reasons. Also there may be problems to access the building by students with disabilities due to architectural barriers not considered in the original project of the structure and often with interventions of not immediate realization in authorized zone. Theoretical lectures are nowadays routinely carried out worldwide using various standard e-learning platforms without any problems but the remote nuclear education is particularly challenging in the experimental education, hands-on activities, and interactive exercises. To ensure this sense of experimental education and exercises, it is necessary to use an innovative approach and significantly involve modern technologies. It is not just about providing electronic lectures it is important to involve a student in an experiment to see all activities in real time, provide him with online measured data and give him space to influence the course of the experiment based on his evaluation. Four partners are involved in the PADINE-TT project - Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), University of Warsaw (UW) and University of Pavia (UNIPV). CTU and STU as host universities will broadcast education for guest universities, UW and UNIPV, as receivers. CTU is responsible for experimental education, hands on activities and broadcasting from the VR-1 Reactor and its laboratories. STU is responsible for exercises, organization of calculation workshop with focus on reactor physics. The contributions of both guest universities are complementary. The UW is currently developing a nuclear program and gradually gaining experience. Their involvement in the development of distance education will ensure suitability for the beginning of the country. The UNIPV, on the other hand, has extensive experience in reactor operation and experimental training. All four partners even host or guest will participate in all stages of design, carrying out, and evaluation of pilot courses. The impact of PADINE-TT project will be observed not only on the side of education providing institutions, but also on the side of organizations expecting reliable nuclear education and training. The immediate impact of the project will be measured by bachelor or master degree students involved in the pilot courses for the partner universities. The qualitative indicators will be based on the evaluation of the feedback questionnaire completed by participants from host and guest universities, both students and lecturers. The long-term impact of the project solution lies in the gradual involvement of universities offering education in the field of nuclear engineering (at national, European and international level).
The main purpose of the PADINE-TT project was to design, build and implement distance experimental education and exercises supplementing theoretical lectures in nuclear engineering. Four partners were involved in the PADINE-TT project - the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava (STU), the University of Warsaw (UW) and the University of Pavia (UNIPV). CTU and STU provided broadcasting for students of partner universities, especially UW and UNIPV. The CTU was responsible for the experimental education from the VR-1 reactor. STU was responsible for the simulation workshop and experiment focused on radiation protection. The UW is currently developing a nuclear program and gradually gaining experience teaching nuclear engineering. Their involvement in the development of distance education ensured that the combination of tasks and the difficulty of individual experiments were appropriately set with regard to the education of UW students. UNIPV, on the other hand, has extensive experience in operating research reactors and experimental education and provides a different perspective on standardized experiments than the VR-1 reactor.
Experimental infrastructure is key to training quality experts in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The inclusion of practical education is necessary for a thorough understanding of the phenomena that take place in a nuclear reactor. However, the availability of research reactors suitable for teaching is limited. There are few of them in the world, their operation is financially demanding and the access is limited. Although there is no substitute for practical experience, it is possible to adequately replace this experience with online learning. Distance learning allows for a sense of presence and an experience similar to face-to-face one. Also, online education has made hands-on learning accessible to a large number of students with almost no limitations. The importance of online education became evident during the COVID, students were not allowed to participate in face-to-face education and this reduced a significant part of their studies. In the case of moving experimental education to an online environment, it is necessary to use an innovative approach and use all available technical advantages. Based on the experience and knowledge, online pilot courses of practical education were prepared and implemented.