Engineering professions are becoming increasingly popular among girls as they provide stability, high demand for specialists and prospects for professional growth.
Metinvest Polytechnic, the first private mining and metallurgical university in Ukraine, is creating a platform for training a new generation of female leaders in engineering. Here, girls get not only the knowledge but also the opportunity to build a successful career, break stereotypes and shape the future of Ukrainian industry.
Education that opens the door to the profession
Metinvest Polytechnic offers 16 bachelor's, 18 master's and 5 PhD programmes that allow you to pursue a career in mining and metallurgy sector, engineering, analytics or business management. Thanks to its practice-oriented approach, students are immersed in true-life production processes from the very first days of their studies, which significantly improves their training and allows them to experience the specifics of their chosen profession.
Success stories
Svitlana CHERVIATIUK is a representative of a Kryvyi Rih family of miners and metallurgists. She is currently studying mining and is learning a new profession – concentrator. Svitlana is the only woman in the group, and she is also a scholarship holder. According to the student, it was her personal conscious choice.
"I want to develop in the profession, it is interesting to me and, most importantly, I feel I have a talent. I constantly encourage my colleagues not to stand still and not to be afraid to enter Metinvest Polytechnic. This is a unique opportunity to learn exactly what is needed at work, to have a practical training at the company's enterprises, and to have career prospects. Today I can confidently say that a concentrator is a universal profession," the student shares her opinion.
Diana ROMANOVA, an employee of Northetn iron ore mining and processing plant, is studying Occupational Health and Safety. She is convinced that this speciality is critical for work at the plant:
"Studying at Metinvest Polytechnic allows us not only to better understand the importance of labour protection, but also to realise its key role in ensuring the safety and health of people. We study all the relevant laws and standards, as well as methods of implementing safety measures that are vital for preventing accidents at the enterprise," Diana emphasises.
Yelyzaveta ZHELEZNIAK, a student of Metinvest Polytechnic studying Environmental Protection Technologies, became the first participant in the pilot international practice training project. She successfully completed a practice training at Promet Steel in Burgas, Bulgaria. The practice training was a great opportunity for Yelyzaveta to apply the knowledge she gained during her studies. The student said:
"Working at Promet Steel in Burgas allowed me to study the European experience of organizing an environmental monitoring system, become acquainted with the sources of environmental impact of a metallurgical enterprise and methods of their control, understand the specifics of European legislation, and learn EU environmental reporting standards. I am confident that this experience will help me become a more competent specialist and prepare for my future career in environmental protection."
Supporting gender equality
Metinvest supports gender equality not only in production processes but also in the education system. For example, the share of female students at Metinvest Polytechnic has already reached 20%, and the university is actively working to increase this figure every year. Inclusive curriculum documents, career support and international opportunities all contribute to attracting girls to engineering.
"We strive to create the conditions for each student to move confidently towards her professional goal. At the same time, Metinvest Group does not just open doors to career opportunities, but also creates an environment where women become leaders of change. Metinvest Polytechnic graduates and students are already working in key positions, changing the way of working in the industry and proving that gender does not limit opportunities. We invite girls to study, because each of our educational programmes is a start for the brave and ambitious people, who want to shape the future of Ukrainian industry," said Nataliia REKOVA, First Vice-Rector of Metinvest Polytechnic.
The combination of theoretical knowledge, practical experience and the opportunity to work while studying makes university students ready for the challenges of real professional life. These trends give us reason to hope that the role of women in industry will only grow, and their contribution to Ukraine's recovery and development will be key.
