For the third consecutive year, graduates of Metinvest Polytechnic have been among the recipients of the company’s highest corporate honour, the Metinvest Gold Star. This year, the honour was awarded to Olha Pokotylova, Compensation and Benefits Manager at Metinvest Business Service Personnel Service Centre, who graduated from the Intelligent Control Systems and Robotic Complexes in Mining and Metallurgical Production programme.

Her story is an example of how continuous learning not only helps people acquire new knowledge but also enables them to view their profession from a fresh perspective and unlock new opportunities for growth and development. While already working for the company, Olha enrolled at Metinvest Polytechnic. She admits that it was a difficult decision at first, as balancing work and study is no easy task. Thanks to the flexible study schedule, she successfully balanced her commitments, and it was the university that helped her discover new opportunities which have now become an integral part of her professional activities.

“Balancing work and study was not easy, as most of my time was taken up by work projects. At the same time, the flexible study format offered by Metinvest Polytechnic allowed me to continue my education without interrupting my work and to apply the knowledge I gained directly in practice,” Olha recalls.

During her studies, Olha discovered the world of digital technologies. Artificial intelligence, neural networks, digital twins, MATLAB and Python ceased to be abstract concepts and became practical tools for solving real workplace challenges.

“The tools of artificial intelligence were the first to find practical application. It was during my studies that I discovered its potential, gaining an understanding of how it can be used to automate business processes, analyse data, and identify new solutions.  Today, AI has become my everyday assistant. I was also introduced to the concept of digital twins and discovered new opportunities for their application in automating personnel training, modelling production processes, and testing various operational scenarios,” the graduate says.

An important part of her studies was also gaining experience with MATLAB and Python, which opened up new opportunities for data analysis, modelling, the automation of calculations, and the identification of optimal solutions. According to Olha, one of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the practical case studies, which allowed her to immediately apply newly acquired knowledge in her work and identify opportunities for process improvement.

She believes that a commitment to continuous learning and a willingness to seek out new solutions have been among the key drivers of her professional development. According to her, every success is built on daily self-improvement, curiosity, and the willingness to look beyond simply completing the task at hand.

“In every project, I wanted not only to understand the task itself but also to gain a broader understanding of the process behind it: how it works, what can be improved, and which modern technologies can be applied most effectively. The greatest satisfaction comes from finding solutions that not only comply with legislative requirements and meet business needs, but also make my colleagues’ work more comfortable.”

Olha is convinced that a supportive environment also plays an important role in professional development.

“I have been fortunate to work in an environment that encourages learning, knowledge-sharing, and continuous development. It was my colleagues, mentors, and the experience of working together on challenging projects that largely shaped me as a professional.”

When Olha learned that she had been honoured with the Metinvest Gold Star 2026 Award, it came as a pleasant surprise to her.

“My initial emotions were a mixture of sincere gratitude and excitement. It means a great deal to me that my work, which often takes place behind the scenes, has been noticed and recognised with such a prestigious award. For me personally, this award is not only recognition of what has already been achieved, but also a powerful motivation to keep moving forward, continue developing, introduce new ideas, and make an even greater contribution to the company."

Today, she views her profession from a much broader perspective than she did just a few years ago. Whereas previously her focus had been primarily on HR processes, it is now centred on the opportunities offered by digitalisation, automation, and the use of modern technologies to drive business development.

For those who are only choosing their educational path, Olha advises against postponing their studies and recommends Metinvest Polytechnic as the place to pursue higher education:

“Investing in education is an investment that always stays with a person. For me, studying at Metinvest Polytechnic was not only an opportunity to acquire new knowledge, but also a chance to see my profession in a new light. Modern technologies are evolving very rapidly, so today it is important not only to gain knowledge but also to learn how to keep learning continuously. That, in my view, is one of the greatest strengths of Metinvest Polytechnic.

The story of Olha Pokotylova is a story of how continuous learning becomes an integral part of professional success. For the third consecutive year, graduates of Metinvest Polytechnic have received the company’s highest corporate distinction, proving one thing above all else: modern technical education not only helps graduates earn a degree but also equips them with the competencies needed to drive innovation, transform production processes, and achieve the highest levels of professional recognition.

From 7 to 22 August, Metinvest Polytechnic is accepting applications for its master’s degree programmes. Prospective students can choose from 17 educational programmes and submit their applications through the applicant’s online admissions portal. Advice on registering an online admissions account, details of the admissions campaign, required application documents, and selecting an educational programme is available from the Admissions Committee by telephone on +38 (095) 070-06-37, +38 (067) 760-49-71, or +38 (067) 760-49-54, or by email at pk@mipolytech.education.