VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – The British Columbia Centre of Training Excellence in Mining (CTEM) on Tuesday launched a pilot project that will offer students the opportunity to complete up to a full year of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) mineral exploration and mining technology diploma at four new satellite institutions.

Expected to make it easier for British Columbians to train for careers in mineral exploration and mining, a memorandum of understanding between five post-secondary institutions, including The College of New Caledonia, Northwest Community College (NWCC), Okanagan College and Thompson Rivers University, would boost young talent entering the mining and exploration industries as a skills shortage looms.

“There is a demand for skilled workers in the BC mining sector. Partnerships through the CTEM with post-secondary institutions across the province provide opportunities for students to develop crucial skills for a career in mining and mineral exploration,” said Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett during a news conference at the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia’s Mineral Exploration Roundup conference.

Students who complete the diploma programme could also apply their education towards a degree in mining and mineral resources engineering at BCIT.

CTEM was announced in November 2012 and launched on May 23, 2013. Hosted by NWCC, CTEM is a province-wide virtual hub that connects the mining and mineral industries, communities and public post-secondary institutions throughout the province to ensure students receive targeted training that will give them in-demand skills for these industries.

Since 2012, the Ministry of Advanced Education has provided $500 000 in operating support to CTEM to coordinate mining training at public post-secondary institutions in the province.