Celebrating Our Pioneers in Hydrogen Education: the first HySET Graduation Ceremony
A significant milestone was reached in recent days as we celebrated the first-ever graduation ceremony of the Hydrogen Systems and Enabling Technologies Master.
Held in the prestigious Castello del Valentino in Turin, the event was a joyful celebration that not only recognized the academic achievements of our students but also marked the realization of a shared vision: to train highly qualified engineers who will lead the energy transition through expertise in hydrogen technologies. The ceremony brought together faculty, students, families, industry partners, and institutional leaders to honor this pioneering group of graduates.
The ceremony opened with remarks from Professor Massimo Santarelli, Program Coordinator, who reflected on the journey shared, highlighting the students’ commitment, personal and professional growth, and the importance and responsibility of this first graduating class.
The Vice-Rector for International Affairs from PoliTO, Professor Alberto Sapora, delivered institutional greetings on behalf of the Rector.
Joining remotely, Elisa Maviglia, Project Officer from European education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), expressed pride in the graduates’ accomplishments and emphasized the broader impact of their success.
Inspiring remarks were also made by Local Coordinators, including Professor Gianluca Valenti from Politecnico di Milano, Professor Attila Husar from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Professor Thijs de Groot from Eindhoven University of Technology, and Professor Yiliu Liu from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who congratulated the students and praised their dedication, curiosity, and collaborative spirit.
The festive tone was enriched by the presence of industry partners, such as Evren Unsal from Shell, Filippo Rizzi from Snam, Marta Bucelli from Sintef, Ranveig Niemi from Safetec, and Elena Verdù from Repsol, who joined to show support, share their insights, and recognize the value these new professionals bring to the sector. Their presence underscored the vital connection between academia and industry in preparing professionals ready to tackle real-world challenges in hydrogen technologies.
Gianluca Gariani and Piera della Porta from Collège des Ingénieurs, active contributors to the project, concluded the speeches, offering reflections and words of encouragement to the graduates, reaffirming the shared commitment to the program’s continued success.
The Hydrogen Systems and Enabling Technologies program is one of its kind nationally and internationally offering comprehensive training across the entire hydrogen value chain—from production and storage to distribution and application.
This first cohort of graduates now enters the workforce equipped with the knowledge and vision to contribute meaningfully to a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable energy future.
This ceremony was more than a celebration of academic success—it was a defining moment for the entire program and a promise of what lies ahead.
For the students, it marks the beginning of their professional journey.
For the program, it reaffirms its role as a center of excellence in hydrogen education.
And for the broader academic and industrial communities, it stands as a symbol of commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the talent of tomorrow.
