As part of their educational programme, students of Zaporizhzhia Metallurgical Vocational College took part in an introductory tour of Zaporizhstal steelworks. They visited the main workshops of the enterprise, with particular emphasis on the Railway Transport Department. After all, the majority of the participants had chosen this profession for themselves.
At the outset, the students were given a brief yet engaging overview of the work of railway employees at the metallurgical enterprise. Next, the young visitors attended a training classroom equipped with a simulator, where they had the opportunity to experience what it is like to work as a train driver or their assistant – almost like the real thing.
“It is extremely important that such excursions to the enterprise are organised. This provides an opportunity to show and explain to young people the possibilities that may open up for them at the enterprise in their hometown,” said Andriy KOTOVSHCHIKOV, Head of the Eastern District of the Railway Operations Department at Zaporizhstal.
The students were very pleased with the excursion. One of them was Rostyslav Sydorov. The young man is training to become a train driver’s assistant. For the first time, he experienced what it is like to operate a diesel locomotive within an active production environment. And although it was only a highly realistic simulator, the young man gained a genuine insight into his future profession.
“It looks quite challenging. There are so many levers. It’s not very intuitive at first, but I think learning it won’t be difficult. It’s all very fascinating and impressive in scale. I really enjoyed it,” said Rostyslav SYDOROV, a student of the Zaporizhzhia Metallurgical Vocational College of ZNU.
The teachers were also pleased with the visit. This is because, thanks to the collaboration with Zaporizhstal, there is an opportunity to combine theoretical learning with practical experience. And this is crucial for students to gain a comprehensive mastery of their chosen profession.
“This motivation will begin to yield results from the very first year. By the time students reach their third year and it is time to undertake practical training at the enterprise, they will have a better understanding of what a metallurgical enterprise entails, which factors to pay attention to, and where to focus their efforts. I hope that in the future they will gladly come first for practical training – and then choose to stay here to work and develop in their profession,” said Hanna BOHDANETS, a lecturer at Zaporizhzhia Metallurgical Vocational College of ZNU.
It should be noted that at Zaporizhstal, as well as at other Metinvest enterprises, there is a financial incentive programme for young people who have chosen the plant as their first place of employment. The students also learned about this during the excursion.
“Thanks to such excursions, we can directly give students the opportunity to see for themselves that excellent conditions have been created here for the training and development of workers. Thus, anyone who seeks not merely to work but to build a career, who has ambitions and goals, will find here exactly what they are looking for. We have an excellent team, where, despite being busy with production tasks, people find the energy and dedication to perform their work to a high standard and patiently train newcomers – because we all started our professional journey in the same way,” emphasised Andriy Kotovshchikov.
This is also facilitated by the mentorship programme, in which a young specialist takes their first steps in the workplace with the guidance of experienced employees of the plant. Each year, up to 500 pupils and students undertake introductory, industrial, and pre-graduation practical training at Zaporizhstal. Upon completing their studies, young specialists receive an additional bonus of 50,000 hryvnias for their first year of employment at the plant. Consequently, young people hold their opportunities at the enterprise in high regard.
