On December 2, 2025, a guest lecture titled “IGBT Inverters in Modern Locomotives” was held in Room 3115 — the KZ8A freight electric locomotive laboratory equipped with Alstom Transport SA facilities. The event was organized within the framework of dual education principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The lecture was delivered by Darkhan Baurzhanovich Shertayev, Process Engineer at EKZ Service LLP (Alstom Kazakhstan LLP), who also serves as an Industrialization Project Manager and Head of Section at the Almaty Depot.
During the lecture, modern technologies for the application of IGBT inverters in traction electric drives of next-generation locomotives were discussed. The speaker emphasized that the use of power electronics based on IGBT modules significantly improves energy efficiency, reduces operational losses, and enhances controllability of traction systems. These advantages directly align with SDG 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy,” SDG 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” as well as SDG 4 “Quality Education.”
Special attention was given to practical aspects of operation and maintenance of inverter systems, illustrated by the example of the KZ8A freight electric locomotive operating on Kazakhstan’s railways. Issues related to equipment reliability, diagnostics, maintenance, and the impact of modern technical solutions on reducing the carbon footprint of railway transport were discussed, corresponding to SDG 13 “Climate Action.”
The lecture served as a clear example of the effective implementation of the dual education model, where students gain knowledge directly from industry professionals and engage with real industrial case studies. The speaker’s practical experience in industrialization and production management enabled students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the requirements for modern railway transport engineers.
Such events contribute to the development of human capital, strengthen cooperation between universities and industrial enterprises, and support the training of competitive specialists capable of implementing innovative and sustainable technologies in the transport sector.
