Demand for mine surveyors is growing faster than any digital technology. From mines to metro systems and underground shelters – no subterranean construction happens without precise calculation and control. Metinvest Polytechnic is the only university in Ukraine that trains mine surveyors through the full cycle – from bachelor’s degree to PhD. Students here don’t just study: They work with drones, laser scanners and geoinformation systems, gain hands-on experience at modern enterprises and acquire the tools to drive the development of Ukrainian industry.
Mine surveying is a profession that combines technology, analytics and strategic thinking, offering a stable and promising future. It opens doors for those who want to make the country better – from young people to veterans returning to civilian life and seeking opportunities for retraining and building a career.
Demand for mine surveyors is rising
Today, no construction – from mines to metro systems and underground shelters, buildings and bridges – is possible without a mine surveyor. The Metinvest Group recognises the strategic importance of this profession and is actively investing in training specialists. The main focus of the training is practice-oriented education with guaranteed employment.
Metinvest Polytechnic is the only higher education institution in Ukraine that trains mine surveyors at all levels: from bachelor’s degree to PhD – Doctor of Philosophy. The bachelor’s programme is a separate specialisation: From day one, students focus specifically on mine surveying rather than general mining issues.
Training takes place in partnership with businesses that provide students with modern equipment: drones, laser scanners, electronic total stations – everything modern mine surveyors use. Students undertake internships and hands-on laboratory training sessions at various enterprises. This produces specialists who are ready to work in modern conditions from day one. Such practices have no equivalent at any other university in Ukraine.
Modern practices and international lecturers
Training at Metinvest Polytechnic is based on the best domestic and international practices. Foreign experts are involved in teaching, including PhD Maryna Batur, a specialist with international experience. She earned her master’s degree at Bosphorus University and defended her dissertation at Istanbul Technical University. She teaches courses in English by agreement with students, sharing world-class knowledge and cutting-edge technologies. Explaining why she chose Metinvest Polytechnic for teaching, Maryna Batur emphasises:
“The choice was obvious. My first degree was in mine surveying, and I was taught by true masters of their craft – professors Valentyn Nazarenko, Oleksandr Kuchyn and associate professor Hanna Bruy, who still teach here today and have now become my colleagues. It was thanks to their teaching that I was able to build a career abroad, working with cutting-edge technologies. When I was offered the chance to join the teaching staff at Metinvest Polytechnic, I didn’t hesitate. It’s a chance to share real international experience with the students. Here they work with modern tools – drones, scanners, geographic information systems – and gain practical knowledge that can be applied immediately in production."
The lecturer from the mining department adds that she was impressed by the programme: “This is not just education, but an investment in the future of Ukraine’s mining industry. Training mine surveyors is a strategic necessity, and I’m glad to be part of this process.”
From training to real projects
Students at Metinvest Polytechnic undertake internships at Metinvest Group enterprises, work in laboratories equipped with modern technology and take part in research projects. A striking example is Igor Kyrychenko, a master’s student in mine surveying and a scholarship holder of Metinvest’s CEO:
“Demand for mine surveying specialists is growing, as experienced professionals are becoming scarce, and their presence is critically important for mining and steelmaking enterprises. The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine opens up enormous opportunities for this profession."
For Igor Kyrychenko, the profession has become a continuation of a family tradition: His father devoted more than 40 years to mine surveying, passing on his experience and knowledge.
Education that shapes strategists
Mine surveyors learn planning and analysis, decision-making, working with digital models and forecasting the impact of interventions in the geospace, enabling them to manage enterprises and large-scale projects effectively.
"A mine surveyor is not just an engineer. He is a strategist who understands the development of an enterprise, a city or even an entire industry. Students acquire systemic thinking skills, which enable them to make effective management decisions,” emphasises Maryna Batur.
The profession remains one of the few where human intelligence, precision and analytics are critically important. The Metinvest Polytechnic programme opens up opportunities for veterans returning to civilian life and in need of retraining, providing knowledge, practical skills and employment prospects.
For young people, it’s a chance to gain a prestigious, stable and forward-looking profession where knowledge and technology combine with a real impact on the development of Ukrainian industry and the country’s post-war recovery. A flexible study schedule, hands-on experience at enterprises, modern equipment and scholarship programmes make learning as effective as possible, allowing students to apply their knowledge immediately in production and receive job offers while still studying.
