Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

The Canadian mining industry currently employs nearly 235,000 workers in exploration and development, mining and quarrying, support services for mining, and mineral processing. Hiring requirements in the Canadian mining industry are expected to be at least 145,800 (or over half the workforce) or as high as 199,000 by 2023. Ensuring that there is a sufficient pool of qualified candidates available to meet the workforce demands of the mineral processing segment, which accounts for over 25% or about 59,000 workers of the total workforce, will be especially challenging (Mining Industry Human Resources Council, 2013). As part of its ongoing strategy in support of the sector, the college is actively pursuing opportunities for collaboration with mining companies in the Province with a view to building on related applied R&D capacity and extending ongoing research initiatives, particularly in the area of mineral processing. Accordingly, the college is requesting an Applied Research Tools and Instruments grant of $142,400.00 to support establishment of a mineral processing lab at its Corner Brook campus. The lab will facilitate the active engagement of student and Faculty researchers in applied R&D related to the flotation processes typically used for the sulphide ores encountered in the Province. This facility will also enable delivery of contract training and engineering diploma program offerings, thereby supporting the development of the qualified personnel that are expected to be in great demand in the mining sector over the next decade.