Mining success for Chilean Scholars
Tuesday, 28 July 2009 1:47PM - All Campuses
News in brief:
The training experience of a lifetime has come to a close for 12 Chilean students at a graduation ceremony at Mount Isa recently.
News in detail:
Mining success for Chilean Scholars.
After two years, the pilot Chilean Vocational Education and Training Scholarship Program in Mining - a partnership between TAFE Queensland Mining Services, Xstrata Copper, and many other organisations - has reached its successful conclusion.
The students were awarded their Certificate II in Metalliferous Mining - Open Cut at the Redearth Hotel at 6pm.
TAFE Queensland Mining Services Manager Ros Gilroy said the students have had an amazing experience, learning and exploring in Queensland.
"The real strength of the pilot mining program has been the commitment of all the partners to the success of the Chilean students," she said.
In 2007, the Chilean Government announced a new program of scholarships for students to experience living in overseas countries while attaining technical qualifications for mining and other priority industries.
The Chilean Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Education Queensland to provide this mining training.
The Chilean students arrived in Queensland in August 2008 to undertake English language training at the Gold Coast TAFE as the first stage of the program.
Then in January this year the 12 mining students began training in Mount Isa with TAFE Queensland Mining Services in partnership with Mount Isa TAFE and Xstrata Copper.
Two Chilean Government representatives and the Manager, Education for Australian Education International based in Santiago,will be in Mount Isa to congratulate the graduands.
Representatives from Xstrata Copper Mount Isa Mines, Mount Isa and Gold Coast TAFE institutes and the students' homestay hosts will also attend.
A video crew will record the event together with highlights of Mount Isa to promote the program to future Chilean scholarship applicants.
BECAS CHILE Director of Chilean Technical Scholarship Program, Carolina Maturana said the program was sparked out of the country's skills shortage.
"There was an urgent need for more academics, professionals and technicians of excellence to not only be more productive, but more innovative and creative as well," Ms Maturana said.
"This program has allowed the scholarship holders to get involved in a highly competitive working environment with cutting-edge technology and learn safety standards for their future careers.
She said the program would help Chile to be part of the global knowledge society.
"The students' return to Chile will strengthen the mining sector through new knowledge as well as enriching working practices by means of relevant improvements in safety and innovation, using new technology which optimises production," she said.
Chief Operating Officer of Xstrata Copper North Queensland Steve de Kruijff said the company was pleased to be part of this work experience program to increase the global awareness of mining as an industry and a viable career option.
"The program is a great opportunity for students to apply their TAFE instructions to our mining operations in Mount Isa," he said.
"They also learnt about Xstrata Copper's best practice health, safety, environment and community standards which they can apply in their work environments in Chile.
"This initiative is a strong example of Xstrata Copper's commitment to education and training and the undertaking of joint initiatives between government and industry to create sustainable educational outcomes."
Submitted By:Greg Chapman