The Metinvest Polytechnic Technical University has become an educational partner of the global project "Community Recovery Academy", spearheaded by the Association of Ukrainian Cities and NGO "Mariupol.Reborn". The initiative aims to build professional expertise for the country's recovery. The university's academic and research staff are developing training modules for 25 teams from across Ukraine to assist communities with post-war reconstruction challenges.
The idea to establish "Community Recovery Academy" stemmed from Mariupol's experience, which had to be adapted to new realities and global practices. It is about the importance of a comprehensive approach to the recovery of communities affected by the war. Moreover, the initiative responds to numerous requests from communities that have already started their rebuilding efforts or are actively working on a recovery strategy. A major challenge is the lack of professional expertise and knowledge. That is why, while Mariupol remains under occupation, the experts from the Mariupol Reborn team have focused on supporting other communities by sharing their expertise in recovery planning, training qualified specialists, and developing effective strategies.
As an educational partner, Metinvest Polytechnic is developing modules to enhance the qualifications of municipal managers, with a focus on the practical aspects of the reconstruction: analysing planning data, project management, preparing grant applications, and working with populations affected by trauma. Thanks to modern methods, participants – both male and female – gain not only theoretical knowledge but also practical tools to execute recovery projects.
Oleksandr POVAZHNYI, President of Metinvest Polytechnic, stressed the importance of this project: "Amid the greatest challenges our country is facing today, we see it as our duty to train professionals who can rebuild communities and shape a new future. Participating in the project "Community Recovery Academy" is our way of contributing to Ukraine's revival and development. Each trained team brings us one step closer to the restoration of our cities and villages. We equip participants with both knowledge and practical solutions to help rebuild our country after the victory." The university's President also highlighted its successful experience in developing recovery programmes, particularly for the Master's in Metallurgy Modernisation Management, which will be highly relevant during Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The training programme includes online lectures, offline meetings, forums, workshops, and study tours. Particular emphasis is placed on sharing experience between communities and drawing from the world’s best sustainable development practices. As a result of the training, each team will create a Recovery Period Community Profile, which will serve as a roadmap for rebuilding infrastructure, economy, and social life. Upon completing the programme, participants will receive certificates, with the top students given the opportunity to continue their studies at Ukraine’s leading universities.
"Partnering with a project like "Community Recovery Academy" represents a thoughtful approach to the future of our society. While we can learn from other countries' successful reconstruction cases, it is we, Ukrainians, who will revive the war-affected territories. That is why we are creating an opportunity to learn from the best in order to build strong communities," said Vadym BOICHENKO, Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities' Section on the Development of De-occupied and Temporarily Occupied Communities and Mayor of Mariupol.
This large-scale project is being implemented in partnership with Metinvest Group and Ukraine's largest investment group, SCM. Nataliia Yemchenko, Director of Communications at SCM and a member of the Supervisory Board of the NGO "Mariupol.Reborn," highlighted that the role of business in the "Community Recovery Academy" project goes beyond just financial support:
"We share our relevant successful cases, particularly through the involvement of Metinvest Polytechnic. This is practical training experience that delivers real results. Metinvest Polytechnic’s programme accumulate all the learning experience, offering real knowledge. Therefore, we hope that this will benefit every Ukrainian community," said Nataliia YEMCHENKO.
"Community Recovery Academy" offers the opportunity to acquire up-to-date knowledge, practical action plans, and support from the expert community. It also represents a step towards fostering a new generation of leaders who can ensure sustainable development and prosperity for their communities and for Ukraine as a whole. The project is implemented with the support of the UK Government under the UK International Development programme and the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine).
