The university now has over 600 students, 52 of whom are veterans. For them, education is not only an opportunity to gain a new qualification or deepen existing knowledge, but also an important step towards reintegration into civilian life.
This year, four defenders of Mariupol joined the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes at Metinvest Polytechnic. They are Dmytro Klantsatyi and Vitaliy Andrushchenko from the National Guard, and Oleksandr Pankiv and Kostyantyn Ivanov from the Marine Corps. They all endured captivity and returned home at different times. Under the “Future” programme of the Heart of Azovstal Foundation, established on the initiative of Rinat Akhmetov, the veterans chose to study computer science, automation and robotics, as well as value-based business management and economic data analytics.
One of the new students is Volodymyr Tyshchenko, who served as a grenadier in the 36th Separate Marine Brigade and defended Ukraine in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. He was wounded near Krynky in the Kherson region, after which he was demobilised and returned to work at Zaporizhstal.
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Volodymyr Tyshchenko
Veteran, student of Metinvest Polytechnic«For me, studying is a chance to grow professionally in a field where I already have experience, while also building a future after my service. I chose the ferrous metallurgy programme and am studying at Metinvest’s expense. This is great support: I know that the knowledge I gain will help me to work even more effectively and contribute to the development of the enterprise and the entire industry.»
Another story is that of Volodymyr Zolotaryov, a veteran, volunteer, current student at Metinvest Polytechnic and employee of Northern Iron Ore in Kryvyi Rih. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree, he combined studies at Metinvest Polytechnic with service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He then decided not to stop there and enrolled in a master’s programme in mining.
Oleksandr Povazhniy, rector of Metinvest Polytechnic, noted that the university is continually improving its programmes in cooperation with Metinvest Group, with a focus on adapting to technological change. This year, Metinvest Polytechnic received licences from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and held its first intake for the junior bachelor’s programme. The 94 new students chose courses that allow them to gain a vocational qualification during their studies, while also laying the foundation for further higher-level education.
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Oleksandr Povazhniy
Rector of Metinvest Polytechnic«It is of great value to us to see veterans among our students. They prove that education can truly become a new stage in life. It is a step towards new knowledge, a start and growth in the profession. We believe that such stories inspire the entire community to learn, develop and persevere. Together with Metinvest Group, we aim to create conditions where everyone can realise their potential and contribute to the restoration and development of Ukrainian industry.»
In total, more than 1,330 students have already enrolled at the university, and 267 graduates have received master’s degrees and started their careers in Ukrainian industry, including at Metinvest enterprises.
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Tetiana Petruk
Chief sustainability officer at Metinvest Group«We support the university because we are convinced that only cooperation between education and business can create the conditions for training qualified specialists for the industrial sector. This will help to address the staffing challenges that have intensified since the start of the war. The Group invests in developing business-relevant programmes to provide students with not only knowledge but also practical skills. Our task is to shape a new engineering elite that will rebuild Ukraine and drive the industry forward.»
Metinvest Polytechnic offers programmes covering the key areas of industrial development, including metallurgy, mining, applied mechanics, automation, robotics, electrical engineering, occupational safety, IT and digital intelligence.
The learning process combines rigorous theory with hands-on experience in production. From their first year, students join real production processes at Metinvest enterprises, master modern digital technologies and work on practical projects. The most successful receive job offers while still studying, along with scholarships and opportunities to take part in grant programmes, scientific research and international internships, including at Danieli in Italy and Austria, and Promet Steel in Bulgaria. This approach enables students to combine knowledge acquisition with real professional experience.
Metinvest Polytechnic was founded by Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group in June 2020. The first student intake took place in 2022. The university’s goal is to provide European-level higher education in Ukraine, tailored to the needs of modern industry. It trains young people in technical specialities that are in high demand on the labour market. For the best students, Metinvest guarantees a first job, career development opportunities and additional incentives for growth.