The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with CQUniversity to address the skills shortages in the State’s resources sector.
QRC chief executive Michael Roche told MINING DAILY that the move will allow students to move into resource sector jobs quicker than was previously possible.
“It is a double-sided agreement,” he said.
“We are looking to CQUniversity to orient its teaching programs and research towards the resources sector, while on the other hand the university is hoping to get to get the industry to use more of its services.
“It is located in the heart of the resources sector in Queensland, with campuses in Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Emerald.”
Roche announced the agreement at the Queensland Resources Expo (QREX) in Rockhampton yesterday.
It was signed by QRC president Nicole Hollows and CQUniversity vice-chancellor Professor John Rickard.
According to Roche, there are no firm details as of yet regarding the number of classes or student intake.
“It is very much at the framework stage. A new vice-chancellor, Professor Scott Bowman, will start in a few weeks time to roll out the memorandum in practice,” he said.
“The agreement will not only affect the traditional undergraduate and postgraduate courses, but will also boost the shorter programs that are geared to industry needs as well as build the links to TAFE programs.
“It can take four to five years to get an engineer through a degree and into the workforce, however, there are many jobs carried out by engineers that can be performed with shorter courses or associate-degree courses.
“These can be completed in just couple of years.
“This means we can bring workers to mining companies more quickly.”
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