Sandvik and six international mining universities have started a unique collaboration. The universities are the Mining University of Leoben, Austria (course coordinator); University of New South Wales, Australia; Helsinki University of Technology, Finland; Camborne School of Mines, England; Colorado School of Mines, USA; and the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. They have agreed a partnership to develop and pursue a post-graduate university course on Mining Engineering called ‘Sandvik International Mining School’.
The post-graduate university course of International Mining Engineer will provide Sandvik employees with a well funded academic, job-orientated specialization and intense education in raw materials extraction, with emphasis on international standards. The course is addressed particularly to engineering graduates, who are interested in getting an additional qualification in mining engineering and who seek to get information about the economic and social environment of this industry.
The program includes six course modules, to be held at the participating universities, combining theoretical education and practical field work, to gain international experience. The universities offer these courses in their special field of expertise.
Commenting on the concept, Klaus Sapetschnig, VP Human Resources at Sandvik Mining and Construction, said: “Sandvik and the six mining universities are the first worldwide to enter such a partnership to offer professional training on university level to interested employees, to provided the technical and systematic skills required to understand the business needs of today’s mining industry. The gained extra knowledge will give our employees a considerable competitive edge.”
Professor Peter Moser of Mining University of Leoben commented: “This is a completely new way of specialized international training programs in mining, focusing on the increasing partnership between the industry and universities, meeting the request for an internationally oriented training program bringing the students in contact with the top specialist in mining engineering around the globe, already during their studies.”
