Sandvik (STO:SAND) is launching a unique five-continent mining engineering program aimed at training the next generation of talent in the industry.
Delivered through a consortium of nine mining universities — led by the Colorado School of Mines — the two-year program is designed to close the talent gap. It combines academic study with hands-on learning.
Participants travel across five continents, covering geology, mine design, automation, electrification, sustainability, and mine closure.
Around 20 engineers are selected for each cohort following nomination, testing, and evaluation.
Program coordinator Allen Bellew says that while Sandvik designs advanced mining equipment, many of its engineers and other equally qualified candidates do not come from mining backgrounds.
“Many people from different related technical roles need to understand mining processes better, and to design and support products properly they need to know how equipment is used and what customers need in various mining applications,” Bellew says.
“This is to elevate our employees. It’s a postgraduate program for professionals without a mining background who are not mining engineers, where the emphasis is not on product training, but on building a deeper academic understanding of mining systems and processes.”
The latest cohort, which began in Colorado, will continue through South Africa, Chile, Europe, and Australia before returning to the US. During that time, participants will visit more than a dozen operating mines, exposing them to mining processes and equipment applications.
Real-world benefits
Ursula Stokan, part of the Sandvik mechanical cutting division in Austria, says that building a network is a key part of the program.
“The opportunity to study at different mining universities around the globe gives me new perspectives, both professionally and personally,” Stokan says.
“The program is much more than education — it is a unique journey where I can grow, build lasting relationships, and create a strong international network that will stay with me throughout my career.”
A participant, Gideon de Villiers, from Screening Solutions in South Africa, says the program has given him a better understanding of how different parts of the mining process fit together.
“This has been really useful in my role, as it helps me design equipment that works better within the bigger picture, and meets the needs of our customers more effectively,” de Villiers says.
For Sandvik, the initiative is a strategic investment in helping people understand the field better and make better decisions for customers. In practice, that means engineers who understand not just how to design equipment, but how it adds value within an entire mining system.
Sandvik is a global, high-tech engineering group providing solutions that enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability for the manufacturing, mining, and infrastructure industries.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Main image: Sandvik
