Future Direction of Mineral Resources Education: Strategies and innovations for the new generation embarking on a career in the extractive industries

Abstract

There are many challenges to address for education in mineral resources disciplines, particularly at the tertiary level. As with all tertiary institutions, the aim is to successfully produce graduates that are hard-working, high-achieving and job-ready. Industry is not the only receiver of these students – postgraduate degrees and life-long researchers are also targeted. Very little secondary school education about natural resources and associated industries is integrated into the curriculum, and this poses a problem. This article is intended to address past, present and future initiatives with a teaching and learning emphasis for the mineral resources industry.