The Australian transnational education program led by the University of Queensland (UQ) is progressing, with established collaborative arrangements now in place with partners in Argentina and Chile.
Late last month, UQ received $1 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Education to design and deliver short courses for workers at mining projects in Chile and Argentina.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute Professor Maureen Hassall says course designs are progressing which leverages educational content from Australia and the local country and region.
“The key objective of the program is to facilitate the development of international collaborations through inclusive institution-to-institution and people-to-people linkages and to pilot the development and deliver vocational education and training courses that address some key mining skills challenges,” Hassall says.
Hassall notes that the project aims to be an “important” step in building longer term cooperation and enduring relationships between Australia and resource-rich regions in Latin America.
In Chile, UQ will work alongside the National Mining Society of Chile and the country’s National Institute for Professional Training to develop and deliver the courses.
Meanwhile in Argentina, the training will be developed and delivered in partnership with Universidad Catolica de Salta and mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO).
Hassall says the pilot short courses cover three topics, mine safety, environmental and sustainability, and autonomous mining operations.
“Mine safety will cover risk-based safety management and working safety at height and in confined spaces,” she tells Mining.com.au.
“Environment and sustainability will cover engaging with stakeholders to develop, implement, analyse, and evaluate workplace environment and sustainability initiatives.
“Autonomous mining operations will cover selecting autonomous initiatives, using risk management processes to ensure safe and effective implementation of autonomous technologies, case study analysis of autonomous haulage and automated plant initiatives.”
According to Safe Work Australia, 59 workers have been killed at work this year in the nation, as at 26 June. Out of 59 deaths, two are related to the mining industry.
In 2024, 168 workers were killed at work in Australia, while the average worker deaths over the past five years between 2019 and 2023 totals 191.
UQ, through its Sustainable Minerals Institute and International Centre of Excellence (SMI-ICE-Chile), conducts research and delivers education programs internationally with the support of UQ International Development.
Hassall says the programs focus on addressing global sustainability challenges associated with mining and the supply of mineral resources.
“This project is an important part of continuing to build collaborations and delivering education programs to ensure that the global mining industry has the skills needed to address its sustainability challenges,” she says.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: University of Queensland
