Minster for Education, The Hon Jason Clare has announced that the Australian Research Centre will fund the establishment of the ARC Training Centre for Innovative Composites for the Future of Sustainable Mining Equipment at the University of Wollongong (UOW).
Over the next five years, the ARC Training Centre for Innovative Composites for the Future of Sustainable Mining Equipment will train and produce engineering graduates to be highly qualified professionals who are empowered to take on future challenges in Australia’s mining equipment, technology and service (METS) sector.
Director of the new Centre, Distinguished Professor Zhengyi Jiang of UOW’s School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, said the centre will bring together a team of world-class researchers and industry leaders to train a workforce to meet the future skills demand.
“This centre, by working with industry, will improve and streamline the research and development process, building a solid national network to address the needs of the mining equipment manufacturing, enhancing sustainability, and making a safer mining environment,” Professor Jiang said.
“The centre will support Australian industry to maintain its position as a world leading innovator in the METS sector.”
The centre’s program of industry integrated research focussing on innovative steel composites, coupled with work integrated learning, will empower graduates to develop unique solutions, incorporating into value-added technologies and products into the Australian METS sector.
The centre aims to train industry-focused researchers in advanced manufacturing of new-generation mining equipment and sustainable mining technology, through close collaborations among key universities and mining and manufacturing companies.