Engineering degree mines new territory

Engineering

The University of Adelaide has joined forces with industry and government to provide a new degree aimed at rectifying Australia's serious shortage of mining engineers.

The new Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) degree has received strong endorsement from the State Government, with the Minister for Mineral Resources Development, the Hon. Paul Holloway, officially launching the new degree last month.

Mr Holloway said South Australia was experiencing an exploration and mining boom, unprecedented in the State's history.

"More and more local, national and international mining companies are turning their attention to our State, and our rich mineral and resource deposits," Mr Holloway said.

"The new mining degree at the University of Adelaide will play a significant role in ensuring that skilled workers are available to meet the increasing demand for our resources. The degree will also prepare young South Australians for rewarding careers in the State's mining industry."

Professor Ian Plimer, Professor of Mining Geology at the University of Adelaide, has spent the past couple of months on a statewide recruiting drive for the first cohort of mining engineering students.

Up to 30 students will be offered places in the inaugural intake in 2007. Professor Plimer has secured $1.3 million in bursaries from mining companies to help subsidise the cost of the degree.

Professor Plimer said Australia was currently producing just 40% of the mining engineers required to satisfy industry needs.

"This University - in conjunction with the State Government - has been incredibly astute to realise that the world is undergoing a global restructuring of commodities and we can play a huge role in that."

Story by Candy Gibson