MESSAGE FROM THE HOD
This third edition of the Department of Mining Engineering’s annual review is published at a time that is unlike any the world has seen before. Who would have predicted that the “new normal” would entail presenting our academic programmes altogether online without any contact lectures, exposing our students to a new method of knowledge transfer? The theme of this year’s annual review is particularly appropriate to this time: “Embracing disruption”. When considering the ways in which the Department embraces “disruption”, the typically negative word can be viewed in a distinctly positive light. It gives me pleasure to showcase some of the exceptional achievements and activities that have characterised the period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. Prof Ronny Webber-Youngman Head of Department: Mining Engineering
DISRUPTIVE APPROACHES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING
DISRUPTING THE CURRICULUM Like many other mining schools, the Department has gone through an extensive redesign of its mine design curriculum over the last two years. This process contemplated the future of mining, specifically what the mining engineering profession will look like in years to come. In accordance with recommendations of Prof Con Fauconnier, Honorary Professor in the Department, the new mine design curriculum includes exposure to aspects such as leadership, the social context of business, rectifying the imbalances of the past, as well as international economic systems, striving to create a more equal, yet productive society.
With the nationwide lockdown brought about by the rapid spread of COVID-19, the country basically shut down in March 2020. This was the first sign that the University and its students would be experiencing disruption on a hitherto unimagined scale. Literally overnight, lecturers were expected to change their method of transferring knowledge to an online system. The Department’s staff rose to the challenge and did an exceptional job of accommodating this new approach to teaching and learning.
Although not many new mines are commissioned in South Africa, an increase in the productivity of existing mines is becoming increasingly important. By adopting new technology interventions and mining methods, as well as focusing on the health and safety of our workforce, mine management is realising that it is no longer a question of whether one should embrace technology, but when one should do so. The most important aspects that have therefore been incorporated into the new mine design curriculum include improved employee safety, increased productivity, lower energy consumption, and reduced environmental impact; none of which would be possible without the adoption of appropriate disruptive technologies.
All first-semester lectures and assessments pertaining to mining modules were successfully dealt with, and online learning would be continued in the second semester. I am particularly proud of the commitment and resilience shown by the Department’s lecturers and full-time postgraduate assistant lecturers in dealing with these challenges. They are truly embracing disruption as an opportunity to introduce innovative ways of teaching and learning that will form part of the new approach to tuition to be explored even further in the future.
DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
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ANNUAL REVIEW 2019/20
