06 August 2015 Education

OSTCHEM Continues Investing In Youth Educational Programs 

OSTCHEM Holding companies, being part of Group DF owned by Dmitry Firtash, continue investing in the development of gifted students-chemists. As part of the educational program Cherkasy Azot has provided an opportunity for the best students of chemical faculties of universities, colleges and high schools to undergo practical training at the company. The program of training and work experience consisted of theoretical and practical courses, lasted four months and allowed chemistry students to receive a certificate of working qualification assignment as well as the possibility of further employment.
 
According to the estimates of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine headed by the President of Group DF Dmitry Firtash, since January 1 to June 1, 2015, the number of companies reduced from 519 to 466 thousand, foreign enterprises – from 1988 to 680, joint-stock companies – from 23 to 15.7 thousand, and only in the past year Ukraine has lost more than a million jobs.
 
"Today, the government doesn’t create jobs, and you see what unemployment rate we have now. It is difficult to talk about the opening of new production facilities; we must at least maintain the existing jobs. About a million of Ukrainians are under the threat of job losses now", said Dmitry Firtash, the President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine.
 
To reduce the number of unemployed graduates of the chemical faculties the enterprises of the OSTCHEM Holding systematically provide students with the opportunity not only to get acquainted with the work of the plant, but also to demonstrate their abilities during the industrial training at the training center of the company.
 
"Together with classmates we have passed extensive training in the shops. Probably each of us made sure that he didn’t mistake in choosing a profession. It is good that today there is a two-way communication, and management of the company is making great efforts to the professional education of future professionals", noted the student Oksana Tretiak.
 
In the framework of cooperation between Azot, Cherkasy State Technological University and other educational institutions, the plant provided an opportunity for students to acquire the necessary production skills and learn the job in the structural divisions of the enterprise.
 
"For four months, our students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the technology of production of mineral fertilizers, improve their skills, and most importantly – get the first hands-on experience. Most of them are the potential employees of Azot. With some students the company had previously entered into an agreement about future employment," says PhD Andrii Gromyko, assistant professor of chemistry and chemical technology of inorganic substances of Cherkassy State Technological University.
 
As a result of certification at the enterprise 17 future chemists got the certificate of working qualification assignment. After graduating the best students will be able to work at Azot, says Igor Sergienko, the Director of the Department of Personnel Management of Azot.
 
"We provide the basis for additional training of students and form a talent pool for the enterprise. The situation on the labor market of Ukraine has not changed. Unfortunately, there is still a shortage of working skills. However, thanks to the active cooperation with universities we are able to solve two problems at once – to fill staff shortage and reduce the percentage of unemployed graduates", said Igor Sergienko.
 
By the beginning of 2015, 139 students from different educational institutions of Ukraine passed on-the-job training at Cherkassy Azot.