Education and training should be seen as a vital part of the supply chain ensuring Queensland's mining industry is safe and productive. And a well designed dual-sector university can be a key to success.

That's according to Dr Col Greensill, Associate Professor of Mining and Director of the Pathways Project at CQUniversity, which is seeking to become the State's first dual-sector institution incorporating both vocational competencies and tertiary degree options.

Dr Greensill says his institution is working closely with Queensland's Mining industry Skills Centre (MISC) on a collaborative research project to define, prioritise and estimate the mining sector's most urgent skills requirements, with a view to developing coping strategies.

"The largest single risk to maintaining the current level of prosperity in the resources sector is the availability of an appropriately skilled workforce," he said.

"Providers must be prepared to deliver training and education across a broad spectrum of skills spanning the Australian Qualifications Framework and higher education - from competencies to trades to degrees and beyond."

Dr Greensill says a proposed amalgamation of the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE and CQUniversity provides an excellent opportunity to design new seamless pathways spanning the full AQF and tertiary degrees.

"With our rapidly changing technological environment, we need clear, seamless educational pathways which facilitate articulation across the work spectrum - from operator level  to trade to para-professional to professional levels, all from one high quality, well managed provider," he said.

Meanwhile MISC CEO Derek Hunter says the major impediment to capitalising on the growth in the resources sector over the next five years will be our ability to address the skills shortage.

"The proposed development of the first dual-sector university would provide a unique opportunity to develop the required spectrum of skill through one centrally located institution in Queensland," Mr Hunter said.

"Harnessing regional capability to deliver skills direct to the industry will make a substantial difference to the long-term success of mining in Queensland."