“I hope to contribute in the early commercialization of nuclear fusion generation.”
Top of the ‘1st Power Engineering School Summer Camp’ hosted by KEPCO E&C and full scholarship for one year
[September 1, 2011]
Park, Hyeon-je (24, junior in the Department of Electrical Engineering) who is bi-majoring in Nuclear Engineering, ranked first in the ‘Power Engineering School Summer Camp’ that was held for the first time this year by KEPCO E&C (CEO An, Seung-kyoo). Park will be receiving one-year full scholarship as a reward.
The ‘Power Engineering School’ is a program hosted by KEPCO E&C in order to foster future engineers in the power technology sector. It was held at Yongin from July 18 to July 23 with the attendance of 48 engineering students from 25 universities including Yeungnam University, Seoul National University, KAIST, and POSTECH.
The participating students completed an educational course that lasted for six days made up of lectures in ten fields such as design of Nuclear power plants and Thermal power stations, as well as on-site visits to the Samcheonpo Thermal power Station and Gori Nuclear Power plant. After comprehensive evaluations including tests, presentations, debates, and attendance, Park received 96 points, outscoring the second place by more than 10 points.
The scholarship was handed over to Park at the Yeungnam University Mechanical Engineering Building on the 23rd. At this event, Jin, Tae-eun, director of the KEPCO E&C Human Resources Development and Education Center, said, “The knowledge and practical skills of Park, Hyeon-je, who is double majoring in Nuclear engineering and Electrical engineering is surprising,” while adding, “This education session that utilized the advanced technologies of KEPCO E&C will contribute in training the capacities of students, while also determining the students’ career path after graduation.” He also stated, “We are planning to continue to host this camp in order to contribute in fostering human resources for power technologies such as advanced cultivation of nuclear power personnel, which is being pursued by the government following the winning of bids for the UAE nuclear power plants.”
Park, who ranked first, said, “I began double majoring in Nuclear Engineering since March of last year. I think this is why I was able to rank first. It was worth sleeping less and studying more.” He also added, “Because there are still too few nuclear power experts in Korea, double majoring in Nuclear engineering will provide me with more employment opportunities and two degrees. In addition, I will be given more specialized education and scholarship benefits.”
Park, who explained that he wanted to become an expert in both nuclear power generation and power transmission, said with a smile, “My dream is to contribute in the early commercialization of nuclear fusion generation in the nuclear power sector.”
Scholarship ceremony (from left to right, Professor Lee, Su-jong and Director Jin, Tae-eun of the KEPCO E&C Human Resources Development and Education Center, Park, Hyeon-je, Professor Chai, Young-suck dean of the College of Engineering and Professor Hong, Sung-yull of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Yeungnam University)
Meanwhile, Yeungnam University newly established the Nuclear Engineering major from the first semester of 2011. This is to respond to the rapidly growing demands for the best brains related to nuclear power due to the increased demand for alternative energies to prevent global warming, the government’s plans to increase investments in the nuclear power industry, and the finalization of exports of nuclear power plants to the UAE. Therefore, with the School of Mechanical Engineering (Major of Mechanical System Engineering, Major of Mechanical Design Engineering, and Major of Mechanical Advanced Engineering) being the main department, the school is operating fusion and integrated double major programs participated jointly by the Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, and the School of Chemical Engineering. Students must take over 35 credits in double major curricula and at least 16 credits in core major courses to strengthen expertise. Students that complete the double majors will be given two diplomas, one being their main major and engineering diplomas in the Nuclear Engineering major.