For two weeks, students from Metinvest Polytechnic participated in an offline session at mining facilities in Kryvyi Rih. The practical training took place at the industrial sites of Northern Iron Ore and Southern Iron Ore. The students of the open-pit mining and surveying study programmes immersed themselves in production processes, worked with modern equipment, analysed technological solutions, and discussed the challenges facing the mining industry with company specialists and university faculty.
Master’s students in the surveying programme worked at Northern Iron Ore, focusing on surveying and geodetic measurements using modern tools such as electronic total stations, scanning systems, and UAVs. They explored the latest approaches to data processing and analysis aimed at ensuring the operational efficiency of open-pit mining operations. The practical training was supported by Metinvest Polytechnic faculty and engineers of the company, many of whom are alumni of mining disciplines.
Volodymyr Volotkin, who earned his first diploma from the Krasnoarmiyskyi Industrial Institute, worked as a mining foreman at Colliery Group "Pokrovs'ke" and was mainly engaged in development works. Thanks to his current studies at Metinvest Polytechnic, he is broadening his professional horizons to pursue career opportunities not only in underground mining but also in open-pit mining. Ihor KYRYCHENKO, his classmate and a master’s student with 25 years of surveying experience at Inhulets Iron Ore, reflected on the training:
“In our profession, there is always room for growth and skill development, as each mining site has its own specifics. Visiting the Pershotravnevyi open-pit mine of Northern Iron Ore for the first time, I noticed many similarities and differences compared to the Inhulets deposit. I had fruitful discussions with Dmytro Mitchenko, lead surveyor, and found it interesting to see the laser scanner in operation, as demonstrated by the colleague. I have already decided on the topic of my master's thesis. It will focus on creating an interactive three-dimensional general layout and its application across various activities at an industrial plant.”
At Southern Iron Ore, students studying open-pit mining participated in a laboratory and training session. During the week, the participants studied in detail the process cycle of mining operations: excavation, transportation, formation of dumps, preparatory and drilling operations, repair of mining equipment, drainage and construction of infrastructure, including power lines. The session included professional consultations, practical cases, and work at the company's facilities.
The laboratory and training session also included an interdisciplinary roundtable on the challenges of modern surveying and the transformation of mining operations. The participants included Metinvest Polytechnic faculty, scientists from the M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, company engineers and master's students who already have experience in the industry. The discussion centred on integrating digital technologies into mining, preparing the next generation of professionals, and adapting educational programmes to modern realities of industrial enterprises.
Hanna BRUI, guarantor of the bachelor's degree programme in surveying at Metinvest Polytechnic and Associate Professor, emphasized:
“We intentionally take training beyond the classroom – into open-pit mines and production sites. Modern surveying is no longer just about measurements; it’s about engineering thinking, analytics, and digital technologies. It’s about seeing the full picture. We train master’s students not merely as students, but as future colleagues in the profession.”
The offline session in Kryvyi Rih exemplifies Metinvest Polytechnic’s practice-oriented education approach. Collaborating with production facilities enables students to acquire relevant skills and focus on the practical value of their knowledge from their first year.
