Metinvest Polytechnic has awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in its history

Ukraine’s first private iron and steel university, Metinvest Polytechnic, has held its first graduation ceremony for bachelor’s degree students. This was announced in a statement by Metinvest.

Over 100 students successfully completed their four-year course and received their higher education diplomas. The graduation ceremonies took place in Kamensk and Kryvyi Rih.

This year’s bachelor’s degree graduates have studied in high-demand engineering disciplines: metallurgy, mining, automation, computer science and occupational safety. Most of them plan to enrol on master’s degree programmes.

Quite a few graduates combine their studies with work at Metinvest’s enterprises, notably at the Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Mine, the Zaporizhstal and Kametstal steelworks, and Metinvest Digital. For professionals already working in manufacturing, a university education has provided an opportunity to systematise their own experience and master the latest technologies.

The idea of establishing Ukraine’s first private iron and steel university emerged six years ago. The vision was for a European-style university that would train personnel for Ukrainian industry.

In 2021, construction began in the centre of Mariupol on a state-of-the-art student campus, including an academic building. The full-scale war disrupted these plans, but not the idea behind the project. The university retained its teaching staff, developed new educational programmes and organised teaching in a blended format — online and in-person.

The first intake of students at Metinvest Polytechnic took place in the midst of the war, in the autumn of 2022 – over 450 students began their undergraduate and postgraduate studies under these new circumstances.

The university currently operates in Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih and Kamianske, combining online lectures with practical training at Metinvest’s facilities. During this time, the university has established a full cycle of technical education – from associate degree to postgraduate studies. All educational programmes are accredited by the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance.

In total, 1,335 students are currently enrolled at the university. Over 50 war veterans have chosen this institution to gain a civilian profession and adapt to civilian life.

The educational process is geared towards the practical needs of industry: students work on real-life production case studies and learn to use modern equipment directly at industrial sites. Metinvest supports students with scholarships of up to 10,000 UAH, and guarantees the best graduates their first job and opportunities for professional development. Over 300 master’s graduates, and now the university’s first bachelor’s graduates, are already working at companies in the sector.

“The university, which could not be built in Mariupol, has become a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian technical education. The graduates of Metinvest Polytechnic are Ukraine’s future engineering elite, who will play a decisive role in rebuilding industry and the economy as a whole. We look forward to welcoming each of them to our companies so that, together, we can build a new Ukrainian steel industry,” emphasises Tetyana Petruk, Director of Sustainable Development and Employee Relations at Metinvest.

The university’s admissions campaign is currently underway. Applications for bachelor’s degree programmes are open until 1 August (an associate degree can be obtained without sitting the National Multidisciplinary Test). Preferential admission terms apply to war veterans and certain categories of internally displaced persons.

It is worth noting that in March this year, Metinvest Polytechnic graduated nearly 50 more master’s degree holders in the iron and steel sector. Among the graduates are employees of the Group’s enterprises, including Zaporizhstal, Kametstal, and the Kryvyi Rih mining and processing plants.