Diversified mining and minerals group African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have entered a multidisciplinary partnership to enhance skills and research in South Africa’s mining sector.

The new memorandum of agreement, signed on November 9, will bolster technology development and strengthen the pipeline of postgraduate students and leading-edge research.

ARM, which will provide financial and other support to Wits in various forms, will provide bursaries and vacation work experience for selected students and will consider the best performing students for its Graduate Development Programme, as well as for permanent employment.

One key aspect of the partnership is the sponsorship of postgraduate research that could be relevant to ARM and the wider mining industry.

The Wits School of Mining Engineering will be the main contact point for managing the agreement; however, ARM will be also be working with the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, the School of Accountancy, the School of Geosciences and the Wits Mining Institute to advance teaching and research, says School of Mining Engineering head Professor Cuthbert Musingwini, noting that the partnership is a reflection of how Wits and ARM appreciate the integration of different disciplines in the mining industry.

“Just as mining companies must embrace a wide range of expertise and try to avoid working in silos, so too must we ensure that our disciplines ‘speak’ to each other – this is essential in preparing our students for the industries they are entering.”

ARM has partnered with institutions of higher learning across South Africa, offering exciting career opportunities and contributing to research and advancement for the mining industry, adds ARM Platinum CEO Thando Mkatshana.

“The partnership with Wits provides a great platform to invest in talent across the various disciplines that contribute to the mining sector.”

Musingwini points out that the value of the support is not just in terms of student livelihoods and experience or the pioneering research that will be fostered.

“All this investment feeds back into the teaching curriculum, as it is the lecturing team that supervises the research and gains insights from it, keeping our educational content at the cutting edge,” he explains.

Students will benefit from Wits’ supervision and also from a mentor within ARM who will provide guidance to ensure that the research is relevant to industry, says senior lecturer Clinton Birch, who is leading the engagement with ARM.

A range of research topics have already been decided by the Wits-ARM steering committee, with the relevant students, supervisors and mentors chosen.

The partnership will tackle topics that are extremely relevant to the mining sector, including blending and grade control strategies, the deposition of tailings underground and enhancing mine-community relationships.

“Other topics relate to the efficiency of trackless mobile equipment, blasting optimisation, the use of backfill and zero harm strategies,” says Birch.

“The partnership with ARM gives more people access to quality education, while attracting top teaching and research talent. It goes further than that, it also contributes to employment and drives sustainable development.”

“Our vision is that ARM’s partnership with Wits University will advance the shared ambition for both organisations to lead change in South Africa, Africa and the world, for good,” concludes Musingwini.