To address the skills shortages felt by the mining and power generation industries, Central Queensland University has taken the Smart State option of collaboration and partnership.

Starting at school level, Central Queensland University is providing students with the information and inspiration to make informed decisions about their career options/potential, as well as providing them with the know how to take the right education path.

CQU facilitates this through Role Models, both Engineering lecturers and current Engineering students who visit schools to talk about what engineering has to offer them, presenting them with the facts and the knowledge to choose engineering as a career option from as early as Year 10.

Enhancing this flow from school to higher education that fulfils industry needs, CQU has made links with Mining Education Australia (MEA), Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), Coalfields Engineering Skills Centre at Moranbah High School and the Mining Industry Skills Centre (MISC).

Collaborating with Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, CQU has developed programs that combine both TAFE competencies and University courses that will progress students directly to careers in mining.

Central Queensland University is also creating partnerships with other tertiary education providers to make the most of educational outcomes for students and industry needs.

New programs have been created in collaboration through Mining Education Australia (MEA) with other education providers such as Curtin University, West Australian School of Mines (WASM), New South Wales University and the University of Southern Queensland.

Internationally, these partnerships extend to the Shandong University of Science and Technology in the People’s Republic of China.

Students can complete a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) in collaboration with the University of Queensland (UQ).

CQU is also joining with Queensland University of Technology and UQ to ensure Queensland will have an edge in the staff resourcing arena of power generation. The 3 universities have combined to develop Masters Programs for current and future power generation needs.

Industry is the key player in forming these relationships. To make sure these relationships have meaning, industry guides the education process which has the end result of a stable and rewarding career.

These industry links include BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Anglo Coal Australia, Shandong Bureau of Coal Mine Safety and Supervision, CS Energy, Stanwell Corporation, Power Link, Tarong Energy, ENERGEX, Ergon Energy, ABB and the Australian Power Institute.

Courses demonstrating this are Associate Degree of Mine Technology; Associate Degree of Mine Operations Management; Bachelor of Engineering (Co-op); Associate Degree of Engineering; Associate Degree of Workplace, Health and Safety; Bachelor of Engineering, and the Masters Degree in Engineering (Power Generation).