The availability of skilled mining workers is a common struggle in many countries throughout the world, impacting mining productivity, safety and ultimately profitability. Many countries are forecasting dire shortages in the coming years due to unskilled talent pools, an aging workforce and increased mining production. The development of operator training programs is a key focus for governments, mines and educational institutions. In support of this industry challenge, Immersive Technologies’ solutions have proven to be vital at numerous training centers around the world.

Saudi Mining Polytechnic, Saudi Arabia

The recently established Saudi Mining Polytechnic (SMP) at the Northern Region -KSA - has placed the most unique mining institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This daring industrial endeavor is consequent to consistent synergy between academia and industry. This immense leap comes in due time to build up a qualified pool of Saudi national mining trained workforce intended to support the Mining industry needs Kingdom-wide. For that mission, SMP has diligently partnered with Missouri University(S&T)- USA and TVTC-KSA to lay down the cornerstone for a world standard mining training center meant to contribute to the national economy growth through a local workforce supply strategy. Within a well-established training pattern, talented Saudi High School Graduates are enrolled for a 30-month blended theoretical and technical training program ending with a diploma awarding and a regular mining job employment.

College of the Rockies, Canada

At the College of the Rockies in Canada a highly technical course has been developed to train for high skilled operators. The school utilizes five PRO3 Advanced Equipment Simulators for their training purposes.

“We have developed a four week haul truck operator program which incorporates online learning, substantial time on the simulators covering various scenarios from safety and handling emergencies to general operations and various weather conditions,” says Leah Bradish, Director - Continuing Education, Contract Training and Campus Operations at College of the Rockies.

The course limits the number of participants to keep the class sizes very small and allow for one-on-one instruction. raduates say they gain high levels of confidence, understand mine operation procedures and the importance of operating equipment safely and productively after completing the program.

“One of the simulators is housed on a truck for mobile delivery and travels anywhere in Western Canada to deliver the program. In August 2014 we will have graduated more than 100 students at the one year mark of the program delivery. Our students are finding work at local area mines but also at companies all over British Columbia and into Fort McMurray,” Bradish says.

Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk and Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett were able to experience the simulation training available through the College of the Rockies. Bennett congratulated the college for their efforts in providing a high level of training for jobs that are in high demand.

“Haul-truck simulators at the college are preparing students in the region for British Columbia’s mining sector with hands-on training,” said Virk.

Technical Training Agency (OTEC) Edutecno, Chile

Edutecno, a unique educational training center, in the heart of Santiago, has been dubbed as the regions first virtual experience center. They provide hands on haul truck training in a country where skilled operators are in high demand.

Programs are designed based on the standards of area mining operations and tailored to individual company requirements ensuring qualified graduates. The facility customizes offerings in accordance with the trends and current needs of the labor market.

According to a study by Fundación Chile there is a shortfall of 8,000 workers in the profession of operators in the Chilean mining industry. Innovum Fundación Chile Manager, Hernán Araneda, recently addressed a graduating class of haul truck operators at Edutecno about the accomplishments they had achieved and congratulated them on their new skills, willingness and interest to work in the mining sector.

“The graduates are at the quality level expected by mining. To achieve this we put great effort on having appropriate infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology. We use first rate simulators and the mining industry can be confident our graduates are trained with the technology and training packages they use,” said Leonardo Montenegro, Mining Center and Transport Manager at Edutecno.

The ability to train large numbers of students and produce graduates favorable for employment in the mining industry is essential to the training center, “in quantitative terms it is a tremendous benefit, given that we are providing the labor market with people well-trained for the mining industry, which shows significant gaps in human capital for precisely the trades in which we are preparing them,” Montenegro said.