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MINERALS INDUSTRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING II

Recruiting Good Students

Attracting good students, although challenging, is fundamental to the
success of a department. It has been noted that undergraduate recruitment
follows industry cycles. During industry downturns the grade average of
students applying for entry into the program goes down, and this reverses
during good times when the department is able to attract students with
much higher grades.

Much of the undergraduate program at the Keevil Institute is common to
all students, whether they be in the mining, processing or environment
streams. Mining is preferred by the majority of students, indicating that
a career in at the mine is more attractive to them than a career in the
concentrator. This may be because mining engineering groups have done
a better job in communicating the benefits of a future career to students.

Recruitment remains a major focus of the departments activities.
Generalist Versus Specialist Skills

The Keevil Institute’s Industry Advisory Committee was consulted on his
issue. At the undergraduate level, it is important that degree programs
develop a generalist who has the ability to become a specialist.

Teaching the Right Topics

The modern mineral processing industry is reliant on many sophisticated
tools, which graduates need to know how to manage and use effectively.
These include software, instruments (both on and off-line), sensors and
analytical devices.

Learning to use these tools is important, but students also need to
understand the underlying fundamentals, sothat when they turn the expert
system off they still know how to run the plant.

Programs are accredited by the Canadian Engineering accreditation board.
This group is interested in both the technical content of courses but also

Meeting the Challenges of a
116 Section 4
Changing World