Dedicated to the latest challenges in people management, the conference brought together HR directors, senior executives and representatives from government, education and civil society. Participants discussed veterans’ reintegration, the development of emerging professions and reskilling, mental health and digital tools, as well as practical solutions for attracting and retaining talent amid the ongoing labour market transformation.
The event also recognised the winners of the Top 100 Best Employers in Ukraine 2026 rating, in which Metinvest Group ranked seventh.
Vadym Pukhalskyi participated in the panel discussion "Professions of the Future: Where Can Companies Find Specialists That Universities and Vocational Schools Have Yet to Train?" The discussion also featured representatives from the Kyiv School of Economics, Advanter Group, UpPro School, Caparol Ukraine, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Kyiv24 TV.
Programmes for young people and veterans
Metinvest Polytechnic offers opportunities to acquire a new profession to a wide range of learners, including school graduates, war veterans and internally displaced people.
Vadym Pukhalskyi said: "We have recent school graduates for whom this is their first career choice and the beginning of a professional journey. We have veterans returning to civilian life through educational programmes. We also have internally displaced people who are starting from scratch in a new place. These are the people we work with at Metinvest Polytechnic together with the Group."
For school graduates, the university offers professional pre-higher education programmes, which can be entered without entrance examinations. This enables students to begin their careers within three years, without losing an additional year preparing for Ukraine's National Multi-subject Test.
Metinvest Polytechnic's bachelor's programmes are designed to allow students to combine study with work. Once they reach the age of 18, students can begin working at the Group’s operations. The university also offers a range of financial incentives, including scholarships of up to UAH10,000 and Metinvest's First Job Programme, which provides a UAH50,000 signing bonus.
Vadym Pukhalskyi added: "We give students the opportunity to combine their core degree with an additional field of study. For example, they can study business alongside metallurgy or computer science with a focus on the needs of the mining and metals industry. This enables graduates to gain a better understanding of industrial production and makes them more competitive in the labour market."
For veterans, Metinvest Polytechnic offers streamlined reskilling programmes. Around 50 former servicemen and women are currently studying at the university, including participants supported through Rinat Akhmetov's Heart of Azovstal charitable initiative.
Vadym Pukhalskyi said: "A modern university should not wait for applicants to come to it, but offer them a clear development pathway, from admission to their first job. At Metinvest Polytechnic, students understand from the very beginning of their studies what career they will pursue after graduation, what opportunities lie ahead and what their earning potential will be. This approach helps to retain young professionals in Ukraine while proactively addressing the needs of the economy."
The university of the future
According to Metinvest Polytechnic's representative, the key difference between a traditional university and the university of the future lies in their approach. A traditional institution operates on the principle of "if you have knowledge, pass it on," whereas the university of the future is driven by the idea of "if there is a problem, solve it together with students".
Unlike the traditional model, where businesses typically become involved only when graduates enter the labour market, Metinvest Polytechnic integrates employers directly into the educational process. The Group’s executives and technical specialists contribute to shaping the university's strategy, designing academic programmes and working closely with students to help them to develop the practical skills required by modern industry.
On graduating, students return to Metinvest's operations as qualified professionals and, over time, many become mentors for the next generation of young specialists. This close integration of education, research and industry enables the university to prepare a new generation of engineers.
Vadym Pukhalskyi concluded: "The university of the future is one where business is a fully integrated part of the educational process. This is how we are developing Ukraine's next generation of engineering leaders: professionals who will not only help to rebuild the country, but also create a modern industrial sector that is stronger and more technologically advanced than before."