Metinvest Polytechnic and the educational initiative Community Recovery School, in partnership with Mariupol.Reborn NGO, have signed a memorandum of cooperation. The initiative aims to train specialists who will lead Ukraine’s community recovery efforts, manage reconstruction projects, and support people affected by the war.
As an academic partner, Metinvest Polytechnic is already developing and delivering training modules for 25 teams from across Ukraine. The curriculum covers essential aspects of post-war recovery, including data analysis, project management, grant writing, and support for communities affected by trauma. Using modern methodologies, participants gain not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on skills to implement recovery projects in their home regions.
“The Mariupol city team launched the Community Recovery School as a strategically important project that gives Ukrainian managers access to unique insights from top international instructors. We are excited to scale up. Metinvest Polytechnic is a valuable educational partner that enables us to expand our capabilities in preparing recovery teams for war-affected communities. Ukraine urgently needs qualified, committed, and motivated managers who are ready to roll up their sleeves and work hard to build economically strong and livable communities,”
said Vadym Boichenko, Mayor of Mariupol.
The training programme combines online lectures, in-person sessions, forums, workshops, and study tours. Special emphasis is placed on peer learning between communities and applying best global practices for sustainable development. Each team will conclude the programme by developing a “Community Recovery Profile” – a roadmap to restore local infrastructure, the economy, and social life. Graduates will receive certificates, with top performers given the chance to continue their studies at leading Ukrainian universities.
Oleksandr Povazhnyi, Rector of Metinvest Polytechnic, noted that the university is already playing a vital role in preparing professionals to lead the country’s recovery using modern approaches and expertise.
“We already have experience in developing recovery-focused education programmes. Our master’s programme in ‘Metallurgy Modernisation Management’ has been running for two years and is expected to be in high demand during Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. By integrating academic learning with real-world challenges, we train skilled managers who can make effective decisions and introduce innovative solutions. Our partnership with the Community Recovery School and Mariupol.Reborn is another step toward practice-oriented education that directly contributes to Ukraine’s future,”
said Oleksandr Povazhnyi.
The large-scale project is being carried out in partnership with Metinvest Group and SCM, Ukraine’s biggest investment group.
Natalia Yemchenko, Director of Communications at SCM and a supervisory board member of Mariupol.Reborn, emphasised: “In business, there are several proven ways to recruit top talent. One approach is to headhunt experienced professionals. Another is to build a system that nurtures talent from within. That means investing in education, training, and retraining. This approach applies to everything we do, and we use it in the Community Recovery School: to become the best, we must learn from the best and train the best. That’s why Metinvest Polytechnic joined our project. It offers a unique educational experience that is essential for preparing qualified recovery managers.”
The Community Recovery School, founded by the Association of Ukrainian Cities and Mariupol.Reborn, focuses on training municipal managers for Ukraine’s rebuilding phase. The project is supported by the UK Government through its UK International Development programme and the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine) in partnership with Metinvest and SCM. Academic partners include Metinvest Polytechnic and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
