Scientist Iryna Vashсhyshak teaches several courses in the Renewable Energy Engineering bachelor’s program at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, including the laboratory research course “Hydropower, Bioenergy, and Low-Potential Energy Sources,” the practical class called “Solar and Wind Energy,” and the “Energy Audit” lecture course. She is also the supervisor of two graduates doing their bachelor’s theses.
That is an impressive amount of work. When asked whether she has time for her own research and what motivates her, Vashchyshak says: “The demand for qualified specialists in the renewable energy sector rapidly increased before the war and continues to grow despite the war. At the same time, educational programs and higher education institutions that would allow bridging the gap between theory and practice at the university level and, on a broader scale, between the educational opportunities of Ukrainian universities and the sector’s demand for professionals with practical knowledge and skills, are scarce.” According to Iryna, the internship courses within the bachelor’s program in renewable energy engineering, initiated by the University with the support of USAID, provide students with the best practical skills. “We have adopted the approach of international technical universities, where over 60 percent of the learning time is about practice to make future engineers competitive in the renewable energy job market.”
Iryna’s first degree is in accounting. She graduated with honours from Vocational School No. 21 in Ivano-Frankivsk and thus earned a quota for studying at the University. In addition to Iryna’s economic background, she has always been interested in the exact sciences and technologies. Hence, of all available courses, she chose “Devices and Methods of Non-destructive Testing.” Studying at the University developed Iryna’s engineering skills and creativity. Iryna’s academic projects and internships allowed her to master the profession and inspired her scientific work.
Iryna Vashchyshak started her professional career as a technical diagnostic engineer at the ZOND Company, where she was involved in the non-destructive testing of pipelines: “I thought – it would be interesting to diagnose the object without excavating it. I began to study the subject more deeply, joined the post-graduate program, got engaged in research, and successfully defended my thesis titled “Improving the methods of non-contact monitoring of the condition of underground heat networks.”
Having acquired her post-graduate degree, Iryna stayed with the Department of Energy Management and Technical Diagnostics (EMTD) at the University, where she joined the research studies. Today, her focus is on energy efficiency and energy security. Iryna can operate a wide range of equipment. The laboratories for renewable energy, the renewable energy physical infrastructure, information technologies in energy, and the installation, configuration, and operation of photovoltaic stations are already functioning at the EMTD – all equipped as a result of USAID’s support through a grant program of the USAID Energy Security Project.
And what are Iryna’s plans for the future? The young lecturer admits that this spring, she will join a program to become a trainer in the energy audit of buildings and industrial facilities. Iryna says she will do her best to apply her knowledge and skills in addressing the current challenges in the energy sector in Ukraine.
Concerning the role of women in science and energy, Iryna believes that it is time to move away from the stereotypes that only men can effectively work in the energy field. The increasing numbers of female scientists and their research work have proved that women can successfully pursue careers in technical fields. She strongly recommends young people to consider the energy sector as a field crucial for all aspects of human life and economic development. “People need to be affiliated with something that they feel to be critically important. Energy is the mainstay, it means independence and security,” Iryna says.
The rapid development of modern technologies requires profound technical knowledge and continuous professional development. “To build a successful scientific career in energy, we should not be afraid to take a stand, exchange experience, and come together to achieve goals. Studying foreign languages is very important – it allows us to stay acquainted with the works of scientists in other countries and participate in scientific conferences and international projects. From my own experience, I can say that science is an exciting path that opens great prospects. I am happy that I chose it,” Iryna Vashchyshak added.