A CQU Rockhampton Bachelor of Engineering Co-op student was still in awe today after being notified he had won the prestigious International Coal Mining Exchange Scholarship.

In an Australian first, CQU engineering student Tim Heron will gain industry experience at leading coal companies RAG and DBT in Germany and study at the prestigious Aachen University of Technology.

“I am very exciting to receive the scholarship ... it’s a unique opportunity,” Tim said.

Taking the advice given by his father to “grab a hold of the opportunity with both hands”, Tim intends to bring back to the Bowen Basin the most up-to-date concepts in coal mining.

He said Germany is renowned for their expertise in coal mining and he hopes to learn from the best.

Tim said the scholarship would make him more employable when he turns to Australia.

“It is a great opportunity to be able to get experience overseas and hopefully I will be able to enter a graduate employment program when I return.” Tim still has six months of his degree program to complete this year. He hopes to leave for Germany in August.

Director of the CQU Engineering Co-op program Rod Edwards said the scholarship win was a credit to the hard work Tim had put into the course and also a credit to the CQU program.

“I am very proud of Tim and wish him all the best with the scholarship and his career.” The scholarship is a significant investment by RAG Australia Coal, DBT Australia and the Queensland Government to foster the skills of Mackay students preparing for careers in mining.