The mining industry faces a looming skills shortage 鈥� according to some estimates, a need of up to 50,000 skilled workers by 2020.
鈥淭he case for supporting the development of talent in our industry is clear,鈥� explained Peter Dey, speaking on behalf of Vancouver-based mining company Goldcorp at an announcement Tuesday at Dal鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering.
To help support that cause, Goldcorp is donating $300,000 to Dal鈥檚 Mineral Resource Engineering program. The funding will establish the Goldcorp Professorship in Mineral Engineering, to be held by senior professor Donald Jones. The position will focus on curriculum design in particular, expanding the program鈥檚 emphasis on health and safety and environmental aspects of mining engineering.
鈥淗aving people who鈥檝e worked in industry, as many students will appreciate 鈥� having professionals who are practically minded and have that practical experience, being exposed to real-life challenges 鈥� that provides a great opportunity to influence and inform our own education and research,鈥� said Dal President Richard Florizone, speaking at the event.
The lobby of Sexton Campus鈥� Morroy Building was filled with students who came out for the announcement, reflecting just some of the ripples Goldcorp鈥檚 gift is already causing across the department and the Faculty.
鈥淭his is the start of the rebirth of our Mineral Resource Engineering program,鈥� said Dean of Engineering Josh Leon, noting that the department has been able to make two new hires building on the momentum of Goldcorp鈥檚 support. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real day of growth.鈥�
New opportunities
Goldcorp is one of the world鈥檚 fastest growing senior gold producers, employing 18,000 people in eight countries around the world, and frequently hires Dal co-op students and graduates.
Dey, a Dal law alum (LLB鈥�66) and chair of Goldcorp鈥檚 Governance and Nominating Committee, explained that the company sees education as 鈥渁 fundamental building block to creating opportunity.鈥�
鈥淎t Goldcorp, we do more than just operate gold mines,鈥� he continued. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in many communities and we want to contribute to the long-term social and economic benefit of those communities.鈥�
Dr. Jones, whom Dr. Leon celebrated for his years of commitment to the program and its students, noted Goldcorp鈥檚 leadership in community and sustainable development and thanked the company for its support.
鈥淚 think it will lead to greater things, and I think we can really leap forward,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e see ourselves contributing a lot of new talent to the industry,鈥� noting possible future areas for collaboration in terms of R&D and technology development.
Some of that new talent is already getting experience in the industry. Dylan Morgan, a fourth-year student originally from Barbados, has completed one co-op term with the Goldcorp and is returning this summer to work in the company鈥檚 Misselwhite mine in Northern Ontario.
鈥淚t prepared me really well,鈥� he said, when asked about his education at Dal. 鈥淚 found the skills I learned in Mineral Resource Engineering fit perfectly with what was expected of me.鈥�
He鈥檚 also excited about what the company鈥檚 support for Dal might mean for his program.
鈥淕oldcorp is one of the biggest companies in this industry, and Dal is one of the best universities in Canada so it makes sense for them to try and join forces.鈥�
(L to R): Brent Bergeron (senior vice-president, corporate affairs, Goldcorp), Josh Leon (dean, Faculty of Engineering), Richard Florizone (Dal president), Christine Marks (director, corporate communications, Goldcorp), Peter Dey (chair, Goldcorp Governance and Nominating Committee), Donald Jones (Goldcorp Professor in Mining Engineering).