School of Mining to help stem shortage of trained miners

Media release – Embargoed till 1pm 25 July 2012

School of Mining to help stem shortage of trained miners

An acute shortage of trained professionals in the minerals industry has prompted Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) to establish a School of Mining that will provide access to industry training up to degree level.

TPP’s Council has today committed to the School, in partnership with the mining industry. The School of Mining will operate from 2013 and when fully developed will see entry level to degree level training offered on multiple sites, on the West Coast and throughout New Zealand.

TPP Chairman Graeme McNally says there is strong support from the extractives industry for the School.

“The School of Mining is a response to a very clear regional and national economic need. The extractive industry is strong and growing, but there is a severe shortage of trained staff and the industry tells us they need this sort of school to meet their training needs,” he says.

The decision to launch the School of Mining comes at a time when the New Zealand economy is relying more than ever on the minerals industry for export earnings. The West Coast minerals industry alone is worth close to a billion dollars to the national economy, employing 5000 people directly and indirectly.

Minerals West Coast Manager Peter O’Sullivan says the School is an exciting initiative that is being welcomed by the industry.

“One of the major issues that is holding back our minerals industry is the reliance on experienced professionals from off-shore. We need to develop some home grown talent and the School of Mining will facilitate this and offer clear pathways for career development,” he says.

The School of Mining plans to offer preentry, drilling, mining and blasting courses in 2013. Higher-level programmes, mainly in short course form, will be offered from late 2013, including a substantial programme in environmental management. It will work with other institutions, in New Zealand and Australia, to access degree level training (level 6 and 7) and subject to the necessary approvals it is hoped these will be offered by appropriate tertiary education providers from 2014.

It will be a “virtual school” offering training throughout the country and will also access Australian courses and expertise, particularly as the degree programme develops. Initially courses will be offered at TPP’s current campuses on the West Coast, Southland, Waikato and Canterbury and a strategic alliance with CPIT will see it involved in the provision of some courses like electrical engineering.

“TPP is meeting regional and national needs in an innovative and collaborative way involving industry and other education providers. We plan to use our existing training capabilities and national networks to provide training where there is a need and students are located,” says TPP CEO Allan Sargison.

With the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy due to report to the Government at the end of September, Mr Sargison says TPP is ready to respond to its training recommendations.

“The programmes have already been structured in a way that we can incorporate the post Pike regime in terms of training needs and we are ready to act as soon as the Government responds to the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations.”

TPP will now continue working on programme content for the School of Mining and an Establishment Board will be set up including three members from TPP and three industry members covering a range of mining activities.

ENDS

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