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Event Strengthens the Connection Between Universities, Technical Schools, and Major Companies in the Mining and Metallurgical Sector
The ninth edition of ABM Week, held in September 2025, featured a expanded program aimed at students from technical and higher education, reinforcing the strategic role of academic training for the future of the industry.
Enemet and Academic Tradition
The National Meeting of Students of Metallurgical, Materials, and Mining Engineering (Enemet), created over 20 years ago by students from UFMG and Ufop, was incorporated into the congress and maintained its relevance by opening the event’s activities in São Paulo. During the welcome session, coordinator Willy Ank de Morais, a professor at Universidade Santa Cecília, emphasized that the initiative brings students closer to major industry players and builds essential bridges for their careers.
Additionally, ABM’s executive president, Horacidio Leal Barbosa Filho, shared his journey of over five decades as a member of the entity and highlighted that Enemet was born as a space for networking and knowledge exchange.
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Integration Between Academia and Companies
Executives from major companies participated actively. Vinicius Teixeira, senior operations director of Ternium Brasil, reinforced that the industry relies on academic knowledge to sustain its practices. Felipe Ferreira Dutra, from Usiminas, highlighted the opportunities he had as a student, valuing early contacts with companies.
The students also faced a real technical challenge from the steel industry, which started with a quiz involving industrial processes. Of the 30 teams registered, five reached the final stage, and the winners secured summer internships at Ternium and Usiminas, in addition to additional prizes.
Participation of Technical Schools
On the third day, about 100 students from Senai São Paulo participated for free. They faced a specific quiz on technical knowledge, and according to Morais, the average score was 8.4 points, with twenty participants answering all questions correctly.
At the closing, ABM’s operations director, Valdomiro Roman, stated: “Brazil needs engineers of all modalities because there is no strong country without strong engineering.”
Discussions on Career and Skills
During the week, several executives shared experiences. Lucas Lara, from ArcelorMittal, listed attributes such as resilience and emotional intelligence. Paulo Pinheiro, CEO of SMS group Brasil, emphasized diversity and the need for constant updating.
Subsequently, Rafael Gamboa Lopes, from Gerdau, highlighted self-motivation as a differentiator. Teixeira, from Ternium, advocated for artificial intelligence as a support tool, not as a replacement for labor.
Wrapping up the panels, Jean Alencar, from Vale, recommended that young people invest in specializations, MBAs, and professional associations to expand their networking and visibility.
Roundtable and Student Leadership
Enemet concluded its participation in ABM Week 2025 with a roundtable on career challenges and opportunities. The debate, moderated by Maurício Covcevich Bagatini, a professor at UFMG, brought together representatives from ArcelorMittal, Gerdau, Ternium, and Vale, as well as students from UFPA, UFMG, and UFRGS.
Among the highlights, students reported challenges faced by women in the mining and metallurgical field, such as lack of adequate infrastructure in internships. During the meeting, Vanessa Antoine, from Ternium, advised students to seek contact with reference professionals through networking and internships.
At the end, in a symbolic gesture, the president of Ternium Brasil, Titus Schaar, invited a student to the stage to share her experience. The young woman thanked the opportunity and expressed her desire to return for future editions.
With an agenda full of debates, challenges, and direct interactions with executives, the ABM Week 2025 has established itself as one of the largest meetings of integration between students and industry in Brazil, enhancing the connection between academia and the productive sector. After all, as Valdomiro Roman emphasized, “there is no strong country without strong engineering.”
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