21.9.2004
After a pause of several years, VÍTKOVICE STEEL has returned to sponsoring academic programs. Student summer jobs, fellowships and experience, excursions to simplify the choice of specializations, or direct assistance in the assignment and solving of diploma theses and the provision of information for their elaboration – this is only a part of the strategic human resources policy of VÍTKOVICE STEEL.
The company launched pro-active communication with schools on the basis of an analysis of the current situation, which confirmed the interest and motivation of many students to work at this Ostrava steel mill after completing their studies. The academic activities of VÍTKOVICE STEEL are therefore directed at raising motivation, deepening the knowledge of students at secondary schools and universities in the area of metallurgy, and expanding awareness of the company. This makes them into suitable candidates for employment at the company.
“We are not the type of company that sells more products through advertising. Commercials will not help us sell more steel constructions,” says Vladimír Bail, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of VÍTKOVICE STEEL, a. s. “As an important employer in the northern Moravian region, however, we are fully aware of the fact that human resources are the most valuable thing that a company has, and that without quality employees we cannot do a good job,” adds V. Bail.
The company management presented the pilot projects for academic cooperation – two entirely new student programs – to schools during the course of the Brno International Engineering Exposition 2004. The first contest is aimed at secondary school students, while the second focuses primarily on university students. VÍTKOVICE STEEL is a company, which implements more technology than it develops. Nonetheless, there are areas where development is essential. In terms of specialization or technical equipment, it is better to allow students to solve the problems on academic grounds. Depending on the claims to the speed of processing, the task is assigned either as a special project, or as a diploma thesis in the event of a long-term project. However, the requirements can also arise directly at the schools, where the topics for semestral, bachelor, diploma or other scientific theses are announced every year. The specialized workers at VÍTKOVICE STEEL help not only in the preparation of the assignment, respectively the actual solving of the student’s work.
“Every year, we allow about one hundred selected students to undergo free professional practice, fellowships and part-time jobs at our factories, which is definitely mutually beneficial,” Jan Polzer, the HR director at VÍTKOVICE STEEL, a. s., explains the form of current cooperation with students. “The importance of schools’ cooperation with large technological companies is becoming a phenomenon, which on one hand brings advantages to students, who gain contacts with experience. On the other hand, the company bring up potential employees with high professional skills. We too look for talented people who must know how to work in a team,” adds J. Polzer.
