30 April 2015 – Johannesburg: A range of short courses in health, safety, risk management, sustainability, community relations and socio-economic development are coming up soon, and form part of the regular offering by the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI) at Wits University.
Known for their practical applicability and insights, the CSMI courses add substantial value to mining companies, government regulators and non-governmental organisations while enhancing the careers of participants.
“Our course facilitators bring years of industry experience to the topics they address, allowing participants to deepen their knowledge while engaging on practical issues with experts who have spent decades in their fields,” said course coordinator Lileen Lee.
A strong emphasis is placed on implementing the skills learnt, she said, and this is reinforced by a post-course assignment in which participants report back on how lessons learnt have been taken back to the their organisations.
May: sustainable development
In May the Sustainable Development in Mining and Industry short course will be presented by Julie Stacey, offered on 25-29 May and is aimed mainly at senior management in fields that integrate economic, environmental or ‘people’ issues. With almost 25 years in the mining sector, Julie was the global Sustainable Development Operations Manager for Anglo American plc, and is qualified with a postgraduate degree in earth- and life-sciences.
Her course equips participants to understand the ethos of sustainable development within business, helping them apply business tools and integrate sustainable development considerations into their business strategy and business models. Issues include determining the effects of stakeholder engagement on business processes and value, and applying qualitative prioritisation techniques to the total business risk profile.
June: community relations
One of four short courses CSMI offers on Community Relations Practice, the Management of Community Benefits and Partnerships will be offered from 8-12 June and will be presented by Allison McCallum and Ed O’Keefe.
This short course equips participants with the knowledge to manage the extractive industry’s benefits to communities, and empowers them with tools to plan, implement monitor and report on their interventions in partnership with other groups. It explores community development approaches as well as national, regional and local development planning processes.
The presenters each have about 20 years of experience in community development issues; Alison has worked extensively in corporate social responsibility and Ed has worked on natural resource projects and community development in Africa. Both are experts in helping transform the way extractive industries manage their relationships with communities.
July: health and hygiene
Former Chief Inspector of Mines Dirk Bakker presents a short course on occupational health and hygiene from 20-24 July. This course will prepare non-specialists in the mine work environment to take a systemic approach to occupational health, giving participants a comprehensive overview of the topic and its application within the South African mining sector.
It will cover principles and practice in a risk management context, looking at the role of occupational health globally, regionally and locally. Also included in the course will be: legislation and regulatory framework; occupational hygiene sampling strategies, methodology, equipment and advances; and an introduction to workplace epidemiology, wellbeing, health promotion and compensation in SA.
About the CSMI: www.wits.ac.za/csmi
Housed within the Wits School of Mining Engineering, The Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI) provides short courses and qualifications at certificate and MSc level and undertakes applied research, focusing on health and safety, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic development. It provides an independent space for conversation among peers on how to manage mining development responsibly. At the heart of sustainability is the need for integration of different disciplines to solve complex problems and balance trade-offs. The Centre acts as a bridge between academia and practitioners.