The National Meeting of Students of Metallurgical, Materials, and Mining Engineering (Enemet), one of Brazil’s most important technical-scientific events for students in these fields, celebrates its 20th edition during ABM WEEK 2022, which will be held at Pro Magno Centro de Eventos, São Paulo, from June 7 to 9.

Since its first edition in 2000, Enemet has consolidated itself as an important academic event in which undergraduate researchers present their findings and a have a unique opportunity to meet with renowned professionals and recruiters from industry players.

This is what makes this gathering – born on the initiative of a group of students from UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) and UFOP (Federal University of Ouro Preto) – one of the few of its kind in the world to successfully integrate undergraduate students’ requirements into a technical conference with the participation of high-level professionals from the industry.

“In the United States, for instance, there are industry congresses in which students can participate, but there is no specific event for them in such cases,” says Wagner Bielefeldt, head of the Metallurgy Department at UFRGS (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul) and deputy director of ABM’s (Brazilian Metallurgy, Materials and Mining Association) Southern Unit.

Bielefeldt stresses that the opportunity to leave the classroom during the graduation period and meet colleagues from other universities and graduated engineers who work in companies in the field is “fundamental not only from the scientific and professional training standpoint, but also because of its behavioral dimension.”

“That's why we definitely encourage students to attend the Enemet, even if they don’t present any work,” Bielefeldt points out.

Willy Ank de Morais, professor at the Santa Cecília University’s School of Engineering and Enemet coordinator, explains that students' submissions may be integrated into the different ABM WEEK events this year, so as to achieve a more organic exchange of ideas and knowledge between them and industry professionals.

“This will contribute to an even richer exchange. Students are in process of being trained, but they already have a great deal of knowledge of new technologies and a different view of reality. And, it's worth remembering, younger minds tend to be more creative,” he adds.

According to Ank de Morais, young researchers often present works at Enemet with innovative solutions to old industry problems or take the Industry 4.0 advances as a starting point to transform processes.

“Students are often a benchmark in technical innovations, which generally aren’t so boldly described by professionals in their works,” Ank de Morais explains.

History

ABM CEO, Horacidio Leal Barbosa Filho, recalls that, when approached by a group of university students from Minas Gerais in 2000 proposing to organize a national gathering of students in the sector, the Association promptly welcomed the idea.

“I've been a member of ABM since my university years, but at that time we didn't have such a great opportunity. Getting in contact with different companies and even talking to some of their managers attending ABM WEEK help broaden the students' scope of knowledge,” Leal says.

An undergraduate student at that time, Bielefeldt has participated in Enemet since its first edition, when a delegation from Rio Grande do Sul traveled by bus for 36 hours to Belo Horizonte to attend the event.

“At that time, Enemet was essentially just lectures. Notwithstanding, the impact of meeting students from other realities was so impressive that it soon became clear to everyone that it was necessary to further develop that initiative,” he reports.

Ank de Morais, who has also kept track of the meeting since its very first steps, recalls that there were always many students who expressed to the event's coordinators their appetite to discuss topics related to the world of work, which was an informal activity at the ABM Congress.

“We came to the conclusion that it was necessary to create a formal space for open dialogue between students and Human Resources professionals from industry players; then, we created the HR Round,” he mentions.

The idea ended up being a successful initiative for both sides, as HR professionals now have direct access to potential candidates from different parts of the country, something that would be much more difficult outside Enemet, Ank de Morais points out.

Leal emphasizes that the event’s successful design has resulted in hundreds of students participating every year – something that requires a great expenditure of energy from some of them.

“Students from Ceará travel by bus for three days to reach the event venue; and they pay for it. This is huge,” he says.
In Ank de Morais’ opinion, Enemet will further evolve in future editions in order to enhance integration of students into all ABM WEEK events. As a result, “students will increasingly be able to perceive the scenario in which they live, innovate, and influence the industry growth.”

All ABM WEEK participants must present a vaccination certificate, which will be checked at the time of registration both at self-service check-in and the event office.

The 6th ABM WEEK is hosted by Gerdau and is sponsored by the following companies: Açokorte, Alkegen, Amepa GmbH, Aperam, ArcelorMittal, Atomat Services, AutoForm, BM Group/Polytec, BRC, BR Event Materials, CBMM, Clariant, Danieli, Dassault Systèmes, DME Engenharia, Eirich, Enacom, Engineering, Evonik, Fosbel, GSI, Harsco, Hatch/CISDI, Ibar, Imerys, IMS Messsysteme GmbH, Isra Vision Parsytec, John Cockerill Industry, Kuttner, Metso Outotec, Nalco Water/Ecolab, Nouryon, Primetals Technologies, PSI Metals, Reframax , RHI Magnesita, Saint-Gobain, SMS Group Paul Wurth/ Vetta, Spraying Systems, Suez, SunCoke, Tecnosulfur, Ternium, Thermo Fischer, Timken, TopSolid, TRB, Unimetal, Usiminas, Vale, Vamtec, Vesuvius, Villares Metals, Wallonia.be (ADI – Industrial Services, John Cockerill Hydrogen, BorderSystem, Datanet International, Synthetis e PEPITe), White Martins, e Yellow Solution. Special support: CNPq. Institutional support: Abal, Abendi, Abifa, AIST, AIST Mena, Alacero, CBCA, Ibram, Icz, Instituto Aço Brasil, CIMM, Ind4.0.