MINING INDABA •
All images supplied by Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering
Students in the mock mine at Sibanye-Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory( DigiMine).
ACADEMIA, MINING INDUSTRY – STRENGTHENED BY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
By Dr Paseka Leeuw, School of Mining Engineering head, professor Bekir Genc and Ohveshlan Pillay, University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering
Scientific progress in the mining sector needs to be underpinned by a steady flow of young graduates, who are grounded not only in their established disciplines but who can see the opportunities afforded by new technologies.
To achieve this, the learning process must be infused with constant collaboration between the university and mining companies. As a key consumer of technology, mining practitioners are always absorbing innovations into their disciplines, which raises the bar for their professional performance and that of their mining operations. The more we practically expose our students to the industry during their studies, the more they can understand and advance the technologies they learn about.
Digital progress The runaway pace of digital innovation, for instance, highlights the value of data in tracking and optimising mining and process plant operations. Within the Wits School of Mining Engineering ' s teaching and research, we focus increasingly on the conversion of data into information, and in turn into knowledge and business intelligence.
This is done most effectively through strong relationships with mining industry players, which is why the school works hard at opening doors for students. We consider it crucial to facilitate, as far as possible, the passage of students into the sector – into mining companies and other organisations who share our commitment to skills development. This is a two-way street, as students need experience, and companies can be rewarded by the value of the research and other contributions that our students offer over time.
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • January 2026 • 41