Hydrogen education: current results of cooperation between the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council and Zhytomyr Polytechnic

In 2023, the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council launched a fruitful cooperation with the State University “Zhytomyr Polytechnic”, which significantly strengthened the university's educational and research activities in the field of hydrogen energy. One of the first steps in this cooperation was the transfer of a Toyota Mirai hydrogen car to the university, which allowed the creation of a hydrogen laboratory within the university's science park. The laboratory has become a platform for studying hydrogen technologies, in particular, fuel cells, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen production.

Throughout 2023, university faculty and students actively participated in numerous hydrogen-related events, including visits to international universities, fostering deeper collaboration with global scientific and educational institutions.

This year was also marked by the introduction of hydrogen topics into the university's educational programmes. In particular, hydrogen technologies were included in four disciplines of the Department of Automotive and Transport Technologies within the framework of educational programmes: “Automotive Transport”,  “Smart Transport and Urban Logistics”. These courses include: "Innovative Management of Automotive Technologies and Designs, Resource Efficiency, and Risk Assessment", "Resource-Saving Technologies in Automotive Transport", “Traffic Flow Management in City Centres” and “Transport Planning of Large Cities”.

The use of Toyota Mirai in the educational process allowed the automotive master's students to complete about 20 individual tasks and prepare 15 presentations on hydrogen cars, fuel cells and hydrogen transportation.

In 2024, the study of the Toyota Mirai and hydrogen technologies was integrated into the "Renewable Energy" course, with classes conducted remotely and broadcast from the hydrogen laboratory. This approach provided students with both theoretical knowledge and practical insights into hydrogen technology applications. In November, the Department of Automotive and Transport Technologies discussed including the course "Fuel Cell Vehicles and Hydrogen Energy" as an elective in the university’s programs. Additionally, the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies introduced the discipline "Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells," representing another important step in advancing hydrogen topics within the educational process.

Thanks to collaboration with Toyota's official dealer, university specialists had the opportunity to conduct diagnostics of the Toyota Mirai using specialized equipment, enhancing the skills of future professionals. Furthermore, students worked on projects involving the Toyota Mirai and hydrogen technologies, including project development using the Advisor software environment.

A notable event in 2024 was an automotive conference attended by around 60 delegates, including representatives from universities in Dnipro, Vinnytsia, and Kyiv, as well as automotive companies, policymakers, faculty, and students. The Toyota Mirai attracted particular attention, becoming a significant symbol of hydrogen energy development in Ukraine.

Looking ahead, Zhytomyr Polytechnic has ambitious plans for expanding its hydrogen initiatives. One key direction is introducing local school students in Zhytomyr to the Toyota Mirai. Additionally, the university plans to implement a project for creating hydrogen-powered fuel cell wheelchairs, an important step toward social inclusion and the application of hydrogen technologies in various life spheres. Collaboration continues with leading universities in the United Kingdom, France, and Lithuania, enabling experience exchange and the development of innovative hydrogen projects.

The partnership between the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council and Zhytomyr Polytechnic is a vivid example of successfully integrating innovative technologies into the educational process. Through joint efforts, we are laying the foundation for preparing a new generation of specialists who will shape the future of energy. We deeply value the initiative of the university's faculty and students and believe their achievements will drive further adoption of hydrogen innovations in Ukraine.