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Incentive for mining students launches in WA

A new scholarship program, designed to encourage the best and brightest minds enrolled in mining-oriented tertiary degrees, is scheduled to launch next week.

The WA Mining Club (WAMC) Scholarship program aims to provide financial support and mentorship to outstanding undergraduate students enrolled in mining disciplines in Western Australia, to counter high dropout rates.

The Minerals Tertiary Education Council Key Performance Measures Report 2013 highlights this dropout trend in key areas of study such as Metallurgy (with an attrition rate up 34 per cent from 2012 to  2013), as well as high numbers of Mining Engineering students failing to complete their course.

WAMC will offer six scholarships, each worth $10,000, to exceptional students demonstrating commitment to the mining industry through their studies in geology, environmental science, engineering and metallurgy at the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Curtin University and the WA School of Mines.

The WAMC will also launch its inaugural Indigenous Student in Environmental Sciences or a Technical Discipline in the Mining Sector Scholarship.

WAMC president Neil Watson said the scholarship program will be the most recognised and highly sought after mining education incentive in WA.

“The scholarships are awarded to the brightest and most engaged students, who are on track to be the future leaders for the mining industry,” Watson said.

“Our members and partners see the value of sponsoring the WAMC Scholarship Program, as an investment our industry’s future and to align themselves with these bright young stars.”

Damian Connelly of scholarship co-sponsor METS said mining companies had much to gain from investing in the next generation of industry professionals.

He also said that the ebb and flow of the mining industry and demands of mining-based courses could make them unappealing to prospective students, resulting in skills shortages during boom times.

 “The scholarship is very important because the life of a student is tough and they have to make ends meet,” he said.

“That bit of money to help them get through makes a big difference.

“There’s no doubt that people start university studying in mining disciplines, reassess and then change courses.

“Companies have a vested interest in investing in these students… It also provides them with an opportunity to meet the most capable and talented students and to build a relationship with them as a prospective employer.”

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