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A ROADMAP FOR MINERALS PROCESSING EDUCATION

in professional areas, although there are plenty of training courses on
safety and management”. There may be opportunities for Universities
and other quality education and training providers to meet this need via
quality professional development programs.

University/Industry Partnerships are Important

Education outcomes improve when students have exposure to authentic
case study data and process plant issues. Partnerships between Universities
and Industry can play a vital role in providing opportunities for exchange.
They can also ensure that curriculum stays current and relevant. The
benefits go beyond graduate outcomes, as academics and researchers
also benefit from regular interaction with industry.

There are many examples of beneficial University/Industry partnerships in
the form of guest lectures, shared projects and involvement of industry
representatives on steering committees and advisory boards.
Declining Skills – It Really Matters!

There is evidence of a skills decline, and skills can be linked to substandard
operational performance. This work strongly supports the need for good
education and skills development in the Mineral Processing discipline.

Methodology

A questionnaire was sent to selected minerals industry leaders asking
them to provide feedback on:
1. The knowledge, skills and behaviours they believed were important for
minerals engineers to have on graduation
2. Their views about the quality of available undergraduate and continuing
education.

A total of 92 people from around the world responded to the survey,
a mixture of education providers and graduate employers. All have a
significant stake in the industry and its outcomes. About half (47 out of
92) were academics or researchers. Nearly all have regular contact with

Mineral Engineering Knowledge and 27
Skills for Today’s Industry