White B., Proceedings, 150 years of mining, AusIMM 2002 conference Auckland, New Zealand 01-Sep-0204-Sep-02, Kizil M., White B., Proceedings, 150 years of mining, AusIMM 2002 conference Auckland, New Zealand 01-Sep-0204-Sep-02, and Kizil M.
Mining engineering degree programmes have traditionally had a practical emphasis and have been highly vocational in nature. However, there has been an increasing attention to the more scientific aspects of the discipline. More recently, the professional institutions, the industry and the community at large have placed increasing emphasis on broader aspects, including management, finance, humanity, environment and social issues. Employers of new graduates complain about their lack of practicality and readiness for employment at the sharp end on the mine site. Recent developments in the degree programme at the University of Queensland, Australia, are reviewed which attempt to address the problem. Particular attention is given to alternative learning programmes, including applications of virtual reality, practical experience at the university experimental mine and the undergraduate site learning programme. The experimental mine has three shafts giving access to the underground workings, the main shaft sunk to a depth of 88 m, a ventilation shaft, sunk to 46 m and an inclined shaft at 65 degrees from the horizontal which accesses the 43 m level. In 1999 Thiess Contractors and the university formed a strategic learning partnership involving a range of initiatives covering undergraduate education, company staff training, continuing professional education and research support, and in the following yea, the undergraduate site learning program was developed to provide a structured learning environment for senior undergraduate students within the minerals industry. Other initiatives currently incorporated or under development in the university programme include practically based theses and mine design projects, problem-based learning projects and the development of flexible learning aids, including field trips. International trips are also organised periodically and have included North America, South Africa, Europe and Russia. Undergraduates have opportunities for exchanges w, Mining engineering degree programmes have traditionally had a practical emphasis and have been highly vocational in nature. However, there has been an increasing attention to the more scientific aspects of the discipline. More recently, the professional institutions, the industry and the community at large have placed increasing emphasis on broader aspects, including management, finance, humanity, environment and social issues. Employers of new graduates complain about their lack of practicality and readiness for employment at the sharp end on the mine site. Recent developments in the degree programme at the University of Queensland, Australia, are reviewed which attempt to address the problem. Particular attention is given to alternative learning programmes, including applications of virtual reality, practical experience at the university experimental mine and the undergraduate site learning programme. The experimental mine has three shafts giving access to the underground workings, the main shaft sunk to a depth of 88 m, a ventilation shaft, sunk to 46 m and an inclined shaft at 65 degrees from the horizontal which accesses the 43 m level. In 1999 Thiess Contractors and the university formed a strategic learning partnership involving a range of initiatives covering undergraduate education, company staff training, continuing professional education and research support, and in the following yea, the undergraduate site learning program was developed to provide a structured learning environment for senior undergraduate students within the minerals industry. Other initiatives currently incorporated or under development in the university programme include practically based theses and mine design projects, problem-based learning projects and the development of flexible learning aids, including field trips. International trips are also organised periodically and have included North America, South Africa, Europe and Russia. Undergraduates have opportunities for exchanges w