XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 811
Despite sitting on vast reserves, the country is unable
to maximize the benefits of these endowments. Some of the
reasons and challenges identified are the following:
i. Technical challenge. Ores are becoming difficult to
treat due to refractory ores particularly refractory
gold, presence of deleterious elements associated
with the target metal/mineral such as arsenic associ-
ated with gold or copper, mineral grains occurring as
fine grain sizes and low grade ores.
ii. Strong opposition due to the negative reputation
of mining. There are still many non-governmental
organizations that are campaigning against mining.
This is due to the damage caused by past mine disas-
ters, such as the Marcopper Mining disaster in 1996
(Mariano, 2019).
iii. Insufficient skilled manpower, particularly
Metallurgical Engineers. There are quite a few higher
education institutions (HEIs) with degree programs
related to environment, community engagement,
geology and mining engineering, but there are very
few HEIs offering metallurgical engineering pro-
gram. Currently, the University of the Philippines
Diliman and the Mindanao State University Iligan
Institute of Technology are the only two (2) estab-
lished universities offering metallurgical engineering
undergraduate program and only the University of
the Philippines Diliman offer a graduate program
which is the Master of Science in Metallurgical
Engineering. In 2021, the Batangas State University
launched its metallurgical engineering undergradu-
ate program. Because there are only a few HEIs offer-
ing these programs, there is now a shortage of techni-
cal experts, particularly Metallurgical Engineers, to
support the mining and minerals industry.
iv. There is a mismatch between mining regions and
universities offering mining and metallurgical engi-
neering degree programs. The universities are not
located in the regions where most of the big mining
operations are located.
This paper seeks to shed light on the potential root of these
reasons by looking into the minerals education, particularly
the metallurgical engineering program, in the country.
THE METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
The Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering (BS
MetE) program focuses on the extraction, purification,
property modification and forming of metals. Prior to
2018, engineering degrees in the Philippines were 5-year
degree programs. But when the basic education was revised,
adding 2 years of senior high school to the existing 10-year
basic education system, the curriculum of the tertiary
education was also revised. This reduced the engineering
degrees, including the metallurgical engineering, from
5-year to 4-year degree programs.
The BS MetE curriculum gives emphasis on the theory
of metal processing and less on industry exposure or appli-
cation. It includes four tracks of metallurgy namely
• mineral processing, encompassing comminution,
concentration and dewatering
• extractive metallurgy, including pyrometallurgy,
hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy
• physical metallurgy, tackling the various processes of
property modification and
• adaptive metallurgy, covering the various techniques
of forming metals.
The curriculum also includes advanced mathematics, natu-
ral/physical sciences (particularly analytical chemistry and
physics) introduction to mining engineering ore miner-
alogy engineering sciences such as engineering drawing,
mechanics of rigid and deformable bodies, fluid mechan-
ics, computer science and general education (GE) courses.
At least 30 units of GE courses come from the various
domains—arts and humanities, social sciences and philoso-
phy, and math, science and technology, which help develop
students holistically. The Philippine Commission on
Higher Education also mandated two compulsory courses
to be included in the curriculum—the National Service
and Training Program (NSTP), and the Life and Works of
Rizal, which develop the ethics of service and patriotism in
the students.
The integration of the knowledge and skills learned are
demonstrated in the process and plant design courses, and
an undergraduate research or thesis taken during the senior
year. Also, an integral requirement of the program is intern-
ship where students undergo 320 hours of practicum work
in a government or private institution. These courses will
further equip the students for engineering practice.
For the past five years, the average number of first year
students enrolled in the BS MetE program is 35 per uni-
versity. This is low compared to other engineering degrees.
Metallurgical engineering is not as popular as the other
engineering degrees such as civil engineering, chemical
engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineer-
ing. Many high school students are not aware of metallurgy
or metallurgical engineering they have no idea that such
profession exists. Some of those who know about metal-
lurgical engineering being closely related to mining are
Despite sitting on vast reserves, the country is unable
to maximize the benefits of these endowments. Some of the
reasons and challenges identified are the following:
i. Technical challenge. Ores are becoming difficult to
treat due to refractory ores particularly refractory
gold, presence of deleterious elements associated
with the target metal/mineral such as arsenic associ-
ated with gold or copper, mineral grains occurring as
fine grain sizes and low grade ores.
ii. Strong opposition due to the negative reputation
of mining. There are still many non-governmental
organizations that are campaigning against mining.
This is due to the damage caused by past mine disas-
ters, such as the Marcopper Mining disaster in 1996
(Mariano, 2019).
iii. Insufficient skilled manpower, particularly
Metallurgical Engineers. There are quite a few higher
education institutions (HEIs) with degree programs
related to environment, community engagement,
geology and mining engineering, but there are very
few HEIs offering metallurgical engineering pro-
gram. Currently, the University of the Philippines
Diliman and the Mindanao State University Iligan
Institute of Technology are the only two (2) estab-
lished universities offering metallurgical engineering
undergraduate program and only the University of
the Philippines Diliman offer a graduate program
which is the Master of Science in Metallurgical
Engineering. In 2021, the Batangas State University
launched its metallurgical engineering undergradu-
ate program. Because there are only a few HEIs offer-
ing these programs, there is now a shortage of techni-
cal experts, particularly Metallurgical Engineers, to
support the mining and minerals industry.
iv. There is a mismatch between mining regions and
universities offering mining and metallurgical engi-
neering degree programs. The universities are not
located in the regions where most of the big mining
operations are located.
This paper seeks to shed light on the potential root of these
reasons by looking into the minerals education, particularly
the metallurgical engineering program, in the country.
THE METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
The Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering (BS
MetE) program focuses on the extraction, purification,
property modification and forming of metals. Prior to
2018, engineering degrees in the Philippines were 5-year
degree programs. But when the basic education was revised,
adding 2 years of senior high school to the existing 10-year
basic education system, the curriculum of the tertiary
education was also revised. This reduced the engineering
degrees, including the metallurgical engineering, from
5-year to 4-year degree programs.
The BS MetE curriculum gives emphasis on the theory
of metal processing and less on industry exposure or appli-
cation. It includes four tracks of metallurgy namely
• mineral processing, encompassing comminution,
concentration and dewatering
• extractive metallurgy, including pyrometallurgy,
hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy
• physical metallurgy, tackling the various processes of
property modification and
• adaptive metallurgy, covering the various techniques
of forming metals.
The curriculum also includes advanced mathematics, natu-
ral/physical sciences (particularly analytical chemistry and
physics) introduction to mining engineering ore miner-
alogy engineering sciences such as engineering drawing,
mechanics of rigid and deformable bodies, fluid mechan-
ics, computer science and general education (GE) courses.
At least 30 units of GE courses come from the various
domains—arts and humanities, social sciences and philoso-
phy, and math, science and technology, which help develop
students holistically. The Philippine Commission on
Higher Education also mandated two compulsory courses
to be included in the curriculum—the National Service
and Training Program (NSTP), and the Life and Works of
Rizal, which develop the ethics of service and patriotism in
the students.
The integration of the knowledge and skills learned are
demonstrated in the process and plant design courses, and
an undergraduate research or thesis taken during the senior
year. Also, an integral requirement of the program is intern-
ship where students undergo 320 hours of practicum work
in a government or private institution. These courses will
further equip the students for engineering practice.
For the past five years, the average number of first year
students enrolled in the BS MetE program is 35 per uni-
versity. This is low compared to other engineering degrees.
Metallurgical engineering is not as popular as the other
engineering degrees such as civil engineering, chemical
engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineer-
ing. Many high school students are not aware of metallurgy
or metallurgical engineering they have no idea that such
profession exists. Some of those who know about metal-
lurgical engineering being closely related to mining are