Ukraine’s first private mining and metallurgical university, Metinvest Polytechnic, has celebrated the graduation of 124 master’s degree students. The graduates completed their studies, successfully defended their theses, and received diplomas – 26 of which were awarded with honours. In Kryvyi Rih, diplomas were awarded to 23 employees of Inhulets Iron Ore, Central Iron Ore, Northern Iron Ore, and Southern Iron Ore. The master's graduates studied modern engineering and technical specialities, and the diplomas they earned open up new career opportunities for them.
This year's graduates from the mining and processing plants pursued studies in nine academic programmes, including Mining, Metallurgy, Mineral Processing Technologies, Computer-Aided Design of Mechatronic Systems, Occupational Safety Audit and Consulting, Civil Safety, Economics, Environmental Protection Technologies, and Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies and Robotics. In total, the university offers 11 academic programmes, all accredited by the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance.
Among the 23 master's graduates in Kryvyi Rih, two received diplomas with honours: Serhii Kasianenko from Central Iron Ore and Dmytro Fanio from Northern Iron Ore.
"Obviously, our future lies in modern technologies, but first and foremost, it lies in educated people and professionals. Employees have always been – and continue to be – a top priority for Metinvest. In response to staff shortages, the company is investing even more in employee education. Cooperation with Metinvest Polytechnic, a European-level technical university, enables us to develop the potential of our specialists and train a new technical elite capable of addressing the most pressing production challenges. Our employees have completed relevant academic programmes approved by business, gaining practical knowledge and advanced expertise from academic staff and experts. High-quality engineering education is crucial for both today’s Ukraine and the post-war period – and perhaps some of today’s graduates will become the drivers of the country's modernisation and economic recovery," said Andrii SHCHERBAK, Metinvest's Director of Human Resources and Social Affairs, at the ceremony.
The graduates left behind not only the challenges of exams and certification but also hundreds of lectures and practical training classes, as well as numerous offline sessions held at Metinvest’s production sites in Kamianske, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih.
Now, the newly minted master’s graduates will continue their professional development and career growth, applying their acquired knowledge to real-world production tasks. Among them is Yurii SHSCHEKA from Inhulets Iron Ore. Following the suspension of operations at Inhulets Iron Ore, Yurii transferred to Northern Iron Ore and currently serves as a leading drilling and blasting engineer in the technical department of the Hannivskyi open pit.
"I believe learning is a lifelong journey – we must always keep developing ourselves. This is my second higher education degree, again in mining, as I wanted to deepen my expertise in the field I already work in. At [Metinvest] Polytechnic, we gained up-to-date knowledge, new approaches, and in-depth training on tools that enable faster and more effective mine planning. My thesis focused on a relevant topic – reducing the specific cost of explosives. Overall, my time studying was a great experience. It's absolutely doable, even for those who have a family and a job – the right conditions are there. The key is not to be lazy – stay disciplined and push yourself to do your best."
Illia TREHUB, a site power engineer at the Hannivskyi open-pit mine of Northern Iron Ore, chose to pursue a degree in Occupational Safety Audit and Consulting. His decision was guided by planned changes in his career path:
"My managers recommended that I choose a speciality related to occupational safety. They pointed out the [career] prospects in this field and the opportunity to get a modern education at the company’s expense. Since last year, I’ve been working in occupational safety in a substitute position. So everything aligned perfectly – education, new experience, a new phase in my career, and new emotions. And I truly enjoyed the learning process. It was modern, convenient, and accessible. Even if I couldn’t attend evening lectures or classes, recordings were always available for me to review in my spare time. We had excellent teachers: they were always supportive throughout the entire period of studies. I especially appreciated the way the training and offline sessions were organised. We learned so much from guest experts and instructors – it was exciting to engage with them and discuss relevant safety topics. My colleagues also supported me during my studies, especially when it came to preparing for my interdisciplinary term thesis and the final exam… I’d say to anyone who’s still unsure about whether or not to study: don’t hesitate. Just be patient and find some free time – something I always seemed to be short of."
Oleksandr PARKHOMENKO, a grinding mill operator at the pelletising plant of Central Iron Ore, chose a familiar field – Metallurgy – to continue his education.
"I already had a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, though at that time I majored in cokemaking. The decision to pursue a master’s degree was entirely mine – I just consulted with my shop manager about the field of study. At first, I was considering Environmental Studies, but after the conversation with my manager, I ultimately decided to go with Steel Metallurgy. I’m actually going to show him my diploma tomorrow and thank him. I enjoyed the learning process and have only the best impressions of it. The teachers were experienced and pleasant. My goal is to continue working at the company, at the production site of the mining and processing plant. Even though I might not directly apply this new knowledge at the pelletising plant – as it’s more relevant to Kamet Steel or Zaporizhstal – I believe in being versatile and well-rounded. I’m sure that knowledge in one area can benefit another. The key is to have flexible thinking. I encourage everyone to keep learning, no matter their age. Because in today’s world, stopping means losing. And as the saying goes: knowledge doesn’t weigh anything."
Metinvest Polytechnic is a university that opens up a wide range of opportunities for young people, integrating modern digital systems and platforms into its educational process. Founded by Metinvest Group in June 2020, the university had its first intake of students in 2022. The main goal of the project is to bring Ukrainian higher education to European standards. The university focuses on training specialists in technical fields that are in high demand on the labour market. Metinvest Group supports the best-performing students with guaranteed first employment, career growth opportunities, financial and other incentives. The third intake of students to the university has now been announced.
