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Gerdau and Ânima Educação launch steel industry course with 40 spots, 2,600 hours of training, and focus on qualifying new talents.
Gerdau, the largest Brazilian steel producer, and Ânima Educação, one of the largest higher education ecosystems in the country, announced on May 29, 2026, a unique training aimed at meeting the demands of the steel industry. The initiative resulted in the creation of the Higher Technology Course in Productive Processes of the Steel Industry, developed by UNA, in Conselheiro Lafaiete (MG).
With 40 available spots, the course will last six semesters, with a workload of 2,600 hours and is scheduled to start in August 2026. The project seeks to bring academic training closer to the real needs of companies, helping to reduce the shortage of qualified professionals that affects different industrial segments in Brazil.
In addition to the educational proposal, the initiative also has a strong social component. Gerdau will fully fund 30 of the 40 offered spots, expanding access to professional qualification in a strategic region for its operations.
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Unique training emerges as a response to the lack of specialized labor
The shortage of technical professionals and engineers has become a growing concern for the Brazilian industry. Various sectors report difficulties in filling positions that require specific knowledge and practical experience.
It was in this scenario that Gerdau and Ânima Educação developed the new technological degree. The proposal is to prepare professionals capable of acting directly in production processes, reducing the gap between classroom learning and the challenges encountered in the industrial environment.
According to Flávia Nardon, global director of People and Social Responsibility at the company, the initiative is aligned with the company’s historical commitment to education, human development, and talent training for the future.
What will the steel industry course created by Gerdau and Ânima Educação be like?
The new steel industry course will be offered in a semi-presential format and was structured to meet the current needs of the steel sector.
The degree will last six semesters with a total workload of 2,600 hours. The curriculum was jointly developed by the teams from Gerdau and Ânima Educação, combining academic fundamentals with experiences related to the operational reality of industries.
Among the main topics covered are:
- Applied mathematics, physics, and chemistry;
- Steel production chain;
- Industrial operation and maintenance;
- Process management;
- Safety and responsibility;
- Technology and innovation;
- Industrial automation;
- Data analysis;
- Agile methodologies.
The expectation is to train professionals with a broad view of industrial processes and the ability to work in different areas of the production chain.
Methodology connects academic theory to the reality of the steel industry
One of the differentials of the new degree is the D.U.A.L.E. methodology (Discover, Understand, Accelerate, Launch & Learn, Exchange), adopted in the project’s construction.
The model was designed to bring students closer to the real challenges faced by the steel industry, allowing the knowledge acquired to be practically applied throughout the training.
The proposal also aims to develop skills that are gaining importance within companies, such as innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, process automation, and the use of data for decision-making.
For Ânima Educação, initiatives of this type help strengthen the connection between higher education and the job market, creating career paths more aligned with economic transformations.
Gerdau will fund 30 of the 40 spots offered in the new degree
Another highlight of the initiative is the direct investment made by the company to expand access to education.
Of the 40 available spots, 30 will be fully funded by Gerdau. The distribution will occur as follows:
- 20 spots allocated to company employees;
- 10 spots for family members of employees or participants in social projects supported by the company;
- 10 spots open to the general public.
The measure reinforces the company’s strategy to promote professional development and positive social impact in the regions where it operates.
Ouro Branco (MG), where the company’s largest steel production unit in the world is located, is among the municipalities directly benefited by the initiative.
Engineers of Tomorrow Program strengthens the training of new talents
The launch of the steel industry course is also part of the actions of the Engineers of Tomorrow Program, a strategic front created by the company to attract, develop, and retain professionals in areas related to engineering, metallurgy, and materials.
The proposal is to identify future industry needs and prepare professionals from the early stages of their academic journey.
By connecting technical knowledge and practical experience, the program seeks to reduce the deficit of specialized labor and contribute to the formation of a new generation of professionals prepared to lead transformations in the sector.
This strategy gains relevance at a time when technologies such as industrial automation, process digitalization, and data analysis are redefining the way industries operate.
Selection process already has a defined schedule
Those interested in participating in the first class can already prepare for the selection process.
The released schedule includes:
- Registrations between May 28 and June 17, 2026;
- Online exam on June 20, 2026;
- Announcement of grades on June 24;
- Interview stage with selected candidates;
- Final result expected on July 13, 2026.
Registrations must be made online through UNA, the institution responsible for the academic operation of the program.
Partnership between Gerdau and Ânima Educação can serve as a model for the Brazilian industry
The partnership between Gerdau and Ânima Educação goes beyond the creation of a new higher education course. The project represents a concrete attempt to bring education and the job market closer together at a time when professional qualification has become one of the main challenges for industrial growth.
Executives involved in the initiative, such as Flávia Nardon and Reynaldo Gama, CEO of Ânima Empresas, emphasize that the proposal was designed to develop skills aligned with the current and future demands of organizations.
The new unprecedented training shows how companies and educational institutions can work together to prepare more qualified professionals, accelerate market entry, and strengthen the competitiveness of the steel industry.
With a duration of six semesters, 2,600 hours of training, and 40 spots in the first class, the project emerges as one of the most structured initiatives in recent years aimed at qualifying professionals for the steel industry, a sector that remains fundamental for infrastructure, civil construction, mobility, and economic development in Brazil.
REGISTRATIONS ON THE UNA WEBSITE
With information from Gerdau.
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