“It wasn’t just an internship – it was an encounter with the profession…”
believe students who completed their internship at AlES stations
CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov has once again opened its doors to students studying to become power engineers. Under an agreement with AlES JSC, a summer student group was formed consisting of third-year students from ALTU University named after Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpayev, who completed an internship at the station.
The internship took place in the electrical workshop under the attentive guidance of the deputy head of the workshop, Nurlybek Derbisaly. Right from the start, the students got to see how power engineers work in real life: how equipment is started up, how the uninterrupted supply of energy is monitored and maintained, and how technical issues are resolved in real time.
“We heard about the CHP plant in lectures, saw diagrams, and analyzed processes,” says student Alikhan Mukhan. “But textbooks are one thing, and standing in front of a functioning generator, watching people who manage the most complex processes on a daily basis, is quite another. It's fascinating.”
The students were shown the station’s workshops, control panels, switchgear and other equipment. The internship supervisor went beyond simply giving a tour, he took the time to explain how the processes work, where the energy comes from and where it goes, and why every cog in this system is important.
Working with the students made a positive impression. They showed interest, asked a lot of questions, and strived to gain a deeper understanding of how the station works. Such internships help not only future specialists but also us, energy professionals, to pass on our experience, see familiar processes with fresh eyes, and foster continuity in the profession, shared internship supervisor Nurlybek Derbisaly.
Student Zhanerke Myrzageldy summed it up: “It wasn’t just an internship – it was an encounter with the profession. I got to see how real pros work and understood how important their job really is. I really hope to come back here again – but this time as a young professional.”
At the CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev, as part of an agreement with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, a summer student team of 20 second-year students majoring in Thermal Power Engineering was assembled. The young people learned about the work of the oldest thermal power plant in the republic, which operates entirely on gas.
“We were very lucky to visit the CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev. We are amazed by the monumentality of the construction of energy facilities in Soviet times. It was especially interesting to visit the turbine and boiler shops – everything inspires respect,” the team members shared their impressions.
The AlES team sees training young people as more than just a formality; it’s a contribution to the sustainable future of the country’s energy sector. These kinds of practices build a bridge between universities and actual production, where theory finally gets to show its practical value.