The funding will support both undergraduate and graduate courses on mining health and safety; short courses on H&S for industrial practitioners; and development of educational materials.

The Zimbabwe School of Mines says it is also making efforts to mainstream women in mining through trained-based affirmative action. "In particular, the institute has opened traditionally male-dominated technical careers such as mining engineering, geology and mineral processing to women with the aim to increase their participation in the mining sector," a senior official said.

Vice-chancellor Orlando Quilambo said that Eduardo Mondlane University would this year teach courses in Cartography and Geological Surveying, Applied Geology, and Oil Engineering. “We signed a deal with an oil exploration company for joint training of around 200 students in this area by 2015,” Quilambo explained.

The contract falls under the Algoma Games For Health program where a web based portal called learning 2 Mine will be created to provide social connectivity features, educational games, videos and documents for an Aboriginal post-secondary education and training institute.

The mining center had to look to South Africa for the technology as no outfit in the U.S. builds mining simulation of this sophistication. South African technicians traveled to Juneau to help shake out the bugs and train UAS mining instructors on the technology. The simulator, named Cybermine, was created by ThoroughTec Simulation based in South Africa. It will be used to prepare entry-level miners for hard rock mining jobs and to provide opportunity for seasoned miners to hone their skills.

In touting the economic benefit of the proposal near Wyong, [general manager Kerry] Heywood said a further 700 indirect jobs would be created on top of the mine's 300-strong workforce. "Importantly, these jobs will be well paid and provide opportunities for ongoing training and advancement which will give young people the opportunity to live and work on the Central Coast," he said.

This basic level course has been developed to cover both the technical and practical aspects of ground support for open pit and underground metalliferous and coal mines.

“We’re making a final push to encourage our young miners and students interested in the mining industry to apply for this wonderful opportunity,” began Jason Parsons, Director of Remember The Miners. “Education is an important foundation for our future coal miners, and we’re proud to support them as they embark upon securing the future of coal.”

The Mining 101 workshop is an excellent introduction for companies looking to provide their services to the Mining Sector or for those embarking on careers within the mining sector - graduates, new recruits and associated sectors - the financial community, lawyers, PR companies, equipment manufacturers and service providers who would benefit from an overview of mining, and be in a better position as a result to develop more business opportunities.