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November 2015
MODERN MINING
9
MINING News
Improving skills is one of the biggest needs
and challenges of the mining industry. This
topic, together with other pertinent issues
such as modernisation, was just one of the
topics to be covered at the 2015 Joburg
Indaba, which was held at the Inanda Club
recently. The University of Pretoria (UP) was
one of the sponsors of the event.
Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-
Chancellor and Principal of the University of
Pretoria, participated in a panel discussion
at the Indaba exploring the strategic direc
tion that is currently shaping the industry.
“Our primary responsibility as an aca
demic institution is that we produce
quality students who are prepared to
engage with the changing environments
in which they will work,” she said. “Our
recently launched Virtual Reality Centre
for Mine Design, together with the Mining
Resilience Research Institute in the Faculty
of Engineering Built Environment and
IT (EBIT), both provide vital cogs in the
wheel that will assist the industry with
UP participates in Joburg Indaba
Final year Mining Engineering students visiting the Joburg Indaba held at the Inanda Club recently. Seen here
(from left) are Busi Manana, Zelly Moropana, Tshwarelo Phago, Surprise Mahlangu, Itumeleng Sikosana and
Otshepeng Manne.
its re-positioning and actively contribute
towards solutions for the complex chal
lenges it faces.”
UP final year mining students also
participated in ‘The Future Generation’
session and enjoyed the opportunity to
interact with current mining industry pro
fessionals, who were able to give them
valuable insight into the world they will
be entering in 2016.