XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 801
“develop skills and knowledge in general areas,” and two
were categorized as “build confidence and interest.” One
missing qualification under the area of “sufficient experi-
ence in the field” was written as “They are all book smart
but cannot implement in the field.” One respondent iden-
tified a missing qualification in “develop skills and knowl-
edge in general areas” as “Computing skills, mathematical
and physical literacy.” One of the missing qualifications
under the area of “build confidence and interest” was stated
as “They should have strong pride in where they came from
and who they are.”
The five missing qualifications under “sufficient expe-
rience in the field” were identified by respondents who
worked in a mining/metallurgical operation company, a
mining/metallurgical consulting company, or a mining/
metallurgical equipment supplier company. The two miss-
ing qualifications under “develop skills and knowledge in
general areas” were identified by respondents who worked
in a mining/metallurgical operation company and a R &D
company. The two missing qualifications under “build con-
fidence and interest” were identified by respondents who
both worked in an EPCM company.
Desired Qualifications in the Next Five Years
Figure 6 shows frequencies of desired qualifications in the
next five years. Frequencies of matched qualifications ranges
from 1 to 6. Six desired qualifications can be addressed
under criterion (7)—“acquire and apply new knowledge
as needed.” One example was “AI, Machine Learning,
Big data utilization.” Four desired qualifications can be
addressed under criterion (2). An example of this was “The
graduates are getting the basics now. In the next five years
we would expect they are getting direction on where the
mining industry is headed with regard to automation, digi-
talization, software development for autonomous mining,
carbon footprint measurement and reduction, sustain-
ability and circularity.” Three desired qualifications can be
addressed under criterion (3)—“an ability to communicate
effectively with a range of audiences.” An example of this
was written as “you need to move away from the typical
university technical writing and learn how to write for deci-
sion makers, regulators and the general public. Since that is
not something typically understood well in academia, you
need to reach out to the industry to find and teach this
skillset to the students.” None of the desired qualifications
mentioned by the respondents can be matched to criterion
(4) and (5).
The desired qualifications under criterion (2) and (7)
were both identified by respondents who worked in a min-
ing/metallurgical operation company, a mining/metal-
lurgical consulting company, or a mining/metallurgical
equipment supplier company. The desired qualifications
under criterion (1) were identified by respondents who
worked in a mining/metallurgical operation company and
an EPCM company. The desired qualifications under cri-
terion (3) were identified by respondents who worked in
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Sufficient experience in the field
Develop skills and knowledge in general area
Build confidence and interest
Mining/metallurgical operation
Mining/metallurgical consulting
Mining/metallurgical equipment supplier
Research and development (R &D)
Engineering procurement, construction, and management (EPCM)
Figure 5. Frequencies of missing qualifications under other categories
“develop skills and knowledge in general areas,” and two
were categorized as “build confidence and interest.” One
missing qualification under the area of “sufficient experi-
ence in the field” was written as “They are all book smart
but cannot implement in the field.” One respondent iden-
tified a missing qualification in “develop skills and knowl-
edge in general areas” as “Computing skills, mathematical
and physical literacy.” One of the missing qualifications
under the area of “build confidence and interest” was stated
as “They should have strong pride in where they came from
and who they are.”
The five missing qualifications under “sufficient expe-
rience in the field” were identified by respondents who
worked in a mining/metallurgical operation company, a
mining/metallurgical consulting company, or a mining/
metallurgical equipment supplier company. The two miss-
ing qualifications under “develop skills and knowledge in
general areas” were identified by respondents who worked
in a mining/metallurgical operation company and a R &D
company. The two missing qualifications under “build con-
fidence and interest” were identified by respondents who
both worked in an EPCM company.
Desired Qualifications in the Next Five Years
Figure 6 shows frequencies of desired qualifications in the
next five years. Frequencies of matched qualifications ranges
from 1 to 6. Six desired qualifications can be addressed
under criterion (7)—“acquire and apply new knowledge
as needed.” One example was “AI, Machine Learning,
Big data utilization.” Four desired qualifications can be
addressed under criterion (2). An example of this was “The
graduates are getting the basics now. In the next five years
we would expect they are getting direction on where the
mining industry is headed with regard to automation, digi-
talization, software development for autonomous mining,
carbon footprint measurement and reduction, sustain-
ability and circularity.” Three desired qualifications can be
addressed under criterion (3)—“an ability to communicate
effectively with a range of audiences.” An example of this
was written as “you need to move away from the typical
university technical writing and learn how to write for deci-
sion makers, regulators and the general public. Since that is
not something typically understood well in academia, you
need to reach out to the industry to find and teach this
skillset to the students.” None of the desired qualifications
mentioned by the respondents can be matched to criterion
(4) and (5).
The desired qualifications under criterion (2) and (7)
were both identified by respondents who worked in a min-
ing/metallurgical operation company, a mining/metal-
lurgical consulting company, or a mining/metallurgical
equipment supplier company. The desired qualifications
under criterion (1) were identified by respondents who
worked in a mining/metallurgical operation company and
an EPCM company. The desired qualifications under cri-
terion (3) were identified by respondents who worked in
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Sufficient experience in the field
Develop skills and knowledge in general area
Build confidence and interest
Mining/metallurgical operation
Mining/metallurgical consulting
Mining/metallurgical equipment supplier
Research and development (R &D)
Engineering procurement, construction, and management (EPCM)
Figure 5. Frequencies of missing qualifications under other categories