CQUniversity Australia is ‘digging in' as a long-term supporter of the mining and resources sectors. With the Bowen Basin on its doorstep, the University has established courses, scholarships and relationships to help people enter and advance within these key industries.

A classic example is the University's collaboration with Anglo Coal Australia, including the innovative Mining Associate Program.

Under the program, now available for surface and underground miners and well as safety specialists, ‘mining associates' can gain practical mine site experience and registered training which is integrated with study in CQUniversity's Associate Degree of Engineering (Mining).

The mining associates are able to support mining professionals engaged in mine planning, coal quality management, surveying, environmental monitoring, site projects and other areas as required. CQUniversity also has an existing mining engineering partnership degree (with University of Queensland).

Meanwhile, CQUniversity has partnered with the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) to invest in scholarships to support the next generation of Central Queensland engineers and environmental scientists. For terms and conditions and to receive the application form, phone 13CQUni (13 27 86) and quote ‘QRC Scholarship'.

Employers hiring local graduates and actively pursuing CQUniversity students include Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, Rio Tinto and Xstrata. The University has also established links with mining-related organisations including Mining Education Australia (MEA), Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), Coalfields Engineering Skills Centre at Moranbah High School, the Mining Industry Skills Centre (MISC), Queensland Resources Council, Gladstone Pacific Nickel Ltd, Independent Australian Laboratories, Australia's International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM), the SmartWater Research Centre and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).

The range of degrees supporting the mining and resources sectors includes: Engineering, Mining, Power Generation, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Occupational Health & Safety and Maintenance Management.

In Gladstone and Mackay, the Place-based Pathways projects are a DEEWR-funded CQUniversity-hosted project to develop a seamless staircase for lifelong learning. These pathways will provide a platform to develop solutions to support the local labour recruitment, development and retention strategies of business and industry in Central Queensland, benefitting all types of resource industries.

CQUniversity Mackay's hosting and support for the Australian Simulation Research Office is another recent initiative. The Office is the first of its kind both nationally and internationally and will revolutionise the industry by increasing simulation training standards and developing initiatives to assist in producing a skilled and safety conscious workforce.

Gladstone Campus, which is forging a learning partnership with Rio Tinto, has joined Asset Management Council members and Gladstone industry representatives in a push to establish a CQ region chapter of the AMC.

More widely, University researchers have been helping to improve the quality of mine water, indicating best practice for electricity generation from coal seam methane, boosting the productivity of rail operations and leading constructive debate about the carbon challenge. Showing the breadth of interest, there are a number of research programs focused on improved consideration of social and economic restructuring in mine and regional planning.