Rio Tinto and The University of Queensland (UQ) have signed a five-year $2 million partnership to address skills shortages in the mining engineering sector within Queensland.
The collaboration will support a range of teaching and research activities aimed at improving mine planning and operations.
Rio Tinto’s Group Executive for Technology and Innovation, Dr Grant Thorne, a UQ graduate, said the partnership would benefit the mining industry, the university, its students and the State.
“The resources boom has made Queensland an engine room of the national economy, with unprecedented job growth, career prospects and opportunities in the mining sector,” Dr Thorne said.
“We see the partnership with UQ as a way that Rio Tinto can help keep pace with this growth and assist those who strive for world-class excellence in what is a very rewarding career path.
“Staff and students will be exposed to technical challenges facing Rio Tinto and our employees will gain better understanding of talent and facilities that exist at UQ which could solve some of the technical challenges.”
The Rio Tinto agreement is the latest of UQ’s mining industry partnerships with the University also having similar support from the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and Xstrata.
UQ Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said the partnership would ensure UQ’s mining engineering graduates continued to be at the forefront of their industry.
“I’m pleased with this partnership and that Rio Tinto has seen the value in investing in the University and its students, many of whom will forge careers with Rio Tinto in the future,” Professor Greenfield said.
“Maintaining close relationships with industry partners is vital to ensure our training and research is relevant, of public benefit and equips our students with all they need for a headstart to successful careers.”
Queensland is the world’s largest exporter of seaborne coal with 145.5 million tonnes of coal exported in 2004-05. It is home to major Rio Tinto investments in coal and aluminium.
In the five years to 2005/06, the Australian Minerals Council reported that Australia’s total mine production increased by 19 per cent and that the mining industry employed 127,500 Australians.
Last year, there was a 20% increase in students in Queensland enrolling in university engineering courses.
Rio Tinto’s contribution is a collaboration between three of the company’s business sectors – Rio Tinto Coal Australia (RTCA), Rio Tinto Aluminium and Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation.
Funding will be matched through UQ’s Division of Mining Engineering in the School of Engineering.
The research funding will:
• support research into key areas identified by Rio Tinto and UQ
• provide scholarships for students from other partner universities to take part in the Mining Education Australia mining engineering course at UQ
• fund visits by mining engineering students and faculty staff to Rio Tinto operations as part of the mining engineering course
• fund visits to Rio Tinto operations by first and second year engineering students with a view to attracting them into the mining course in their third and fourth years
• support Rio Tinto’s own staff to return to university to complete additional qualifications in mining engineering
UQ’s Head of Mining Engineering Professor Michael Hood said the money would support mine planning, virtual reality modelling of mine operations and the co-op program where undergraduates spend a year working on a mine site.
“This will enable us to initiate research work and support graduate students on projects that are of interest to Rio Tinto in fields such as improving energy efficiency and improving safety in mineral extraction,” Professor Hood said.
Dr Thorne said Rio Tinto was pleased to be working closely with UQ.
“It will enable Rio Tinto to assist UQ in turning out Australia’s finest engineering graduates, who can take advantage of the many career opportunities that are available in this State.
“It will also allow Rio Tinto to help meet the current skills shortage.”
MEDIA: Alison Smith at RTCA (0438 787 038, 3361 4223), Miguel Holland at UQ (3365 2619)
