Opportunities in the field of mining engineering have taken a step forward for students at Lakehead University and Queen’s University with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the institutions.

“We are excited to collaborate with Lakehead to investigate new learning opportunities for our students,” says Kimberly Woodhouse, Dean, Queen’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. “By working together to create new and innovative pathways to education in this field, we will increase our capacity to meet the growing demand for highly skilled workers in the mining industry, a key driver of economic development in Ontario.

“The agreement will also help Queen’s students make valuable connections in the north and has the potential to open up further educational opportunities through the close relationships Lakehead has with colleges across Canada,” Dr. Woodhouse adds.

Dr. Woodhouse and David Barnett, Dean, Lakehead Faculty of Engineering, signed the MOU at Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus on June 23. The two institutions have agreed to identify opportunities for Lakehead engineering students to complete Queen’s course work in mining engineering through online, distance learning and potential residency programs at Queen’s.

“Lakehead University’s Faculty of Engineering is very pleased to be working with Queen’s University to develop new pathways for students interested in mining engineering,” Dr. Barnett says. “The online courses available through Queen’s will allow our students to gain mining-focused skills that complement their Lakehead engineering degree. This is a great opportunity for our engineering students that are interested in careers within the northwestern Ontario mining sector.”

The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University is widely recognized as a leader in mining engineering education in Canada. The department is currently one of the largest mining schools in North America and the world. The department’s graduates are involved all facets of the Canadian mineral industry and also make vital contributions to major mining operations around the world.