Explosives company AEL Mining Services is continuing to pursue its objective to educate and upskill the country’s engineering and mining students through its technical open days for university students, the last of which was held at its Skills Development Centre, in Modderfontein, Gauteng, last month.
As part of this initiative, AEL partnered with the universities of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Pretoria to host the third- and fourth-year students and pass on practical and theoretical knowledge, as well as insight into the mining sector.
AEL group consulting mining engineer Simon Tose said in an official statement that the open day, which was the third for the year, offered an itinerary to introduce students to the mining sector.
He added that the open days would serve as a yearly training and development programme that would be offered to university engineering students.
AEL mining engineer Bonolo Hamese noted that the open day exposed students to the products used as well as situations in the industry through demonstrations using underground pumps, shocktube detonators and the company’s mobile manufacturing unit.
“This open day is important because students gain crucial information and AEL exposes students to the company and to the opportunities available once they graduate,” she said.
Tose noted that AEL would discuss sponsorships, training and accredited courses that graduates could apply for to enhance their skills and gain working experience.
AEL head of human capital Thabo Nkoane said at the event that he hoped students would take note of the opportunities offered and regard AEL as a potential employer.
“Our biggest hope is to encourage stu- dents to stay in their chosen courses, as many drop out, and to highlight the oppor- tunities for students in their chosen field,” he said.
Meanwhile, University of Pretoria department of mining engineering senior lecturer Wolter de Graaf said that the open day presented an opportunity for students to see in practice what is taught in the classroom.
“As explosives products are not allowed in the classroom, students often find it diffi- cult to relate the theory to the practical aspects. This open day is an excellent way to help students match theory with practice, obtain a better understanding of how the industry works and understand the importance of explosives engineering,” he noted.
Tose agreed and stated that, with the shortage of engineers currently a significant concern, initiatives such as the open day aim to produce more equipped and better- qualified engineers.
“South Africa’s mining students are, in essence, future human capital, which is the reason why AEL is able and willing to educate South Africa’s mining professionals of tomorrow on the company’s product offering to the local and international mining industries,” he said.