Whetherfromindustry,communities,orgovernment,thisnewprogramisdesignedtoequipprofessionalsanddecisionmakerswiththeknowledgeand'skillsnecessarytomanagethe'socialrisksassociatedwithmineralresourceprojects(fromexplorationtoextractionandprocessingthroughtotransport).
Inacontextwhereindustryconstraintsandobligationsmustbebalancedagainstevolving'societalexpectations,anuncertainglobaleconomyandcompetingvisionsofdevelopment,managingthe'socialriskassociatedwiththeextractiveindustriesisincreasinglychallenging.
The'SPMEIprogramhasbeendevelopedinconsultationwithcommunityrelationsand'sustainabilityexpertsfromindustry,Aboriginaladvisors,aswellasleadingthinkersandpractitioners.Theprogram'structureemphasizesthebalancethatmustbe'soughtbetweencommunitydevelopmentaspirationsandbusinessconstraints.Castingacriticallensonthe'sometimescontentiousrelationshipbetweenthegoalsandmethodsofgovernment-industryandthoseofcommunities,whosewaysoflifearemostaffectedbylarge'scaleindustrialprojects,theprogramscurriculum'supports'studentsindevelopinginsightintotheroleofcultureasit'shapesvalues,perceptionsofrisk,andreceptivenesstoextractiveprojects.
Participantswilldevelopin-depthknowledgeandappreciationofthevaluesthatunderpinthediverseperspectivesthatmeetwhenaprojectisproposed,and,asimportantly,todevelopthe'skillsneededtobridgeunderstandinggapsandbuildthetrustthatisthefoundationofresilientandmutuallybeneficialrelationshipsacrosscultures.Theprogramequipsgraduatestodesigncommunityrelationsandbenefit'sharing'strategiesthatimproveacommunitysqualityoflifeandcontributetoits'sustainability,whiledeliveringvalueto'shareholdersandtheCanadianeconomy.
The'SPMEIGraduateDiplomaconsistsoffourcourses,deliveredinanonlineandasynchronousformat.Theprogrammaybecompletedovertwoorfour12weekterms,andcoursesmaybeappliedtoanM.Eng.orM.A.Sc.*
Opportunities
TheRobertM.BuchanDepartmentofMiningatQueensUniversityhasestablishedacredentialedpathwayforlearningand'skillsdevelopmentinthisdifficultandchallengingareaofwork.Industrymanagersandfieldpractitioners,governmentrepresentativesandcommunityandcivil'societyadvocateswillbeintroducedand'sensitizedtothecomplexitiesassociatedwithbuilding,maintainingandmanagingtheserelationships.Thecoursedrawsonexamplesofbothpositiveandconflictedcompanycommunity-governmentencountersandusesgroupexercisestoexplorecriticalcommunityissuesandthecompetenciesrequiredforengaginginresponsiblemineralresourceexplorationanddevelopment.
Careerpaths–employmentopportunities
Theprogramwillbeofinteresttopeopleworkinginthefield,atproject'sites,inaffectedcommunities-forexplorationandminingcompanies,forgovernment,andforcommunitybasedorganizations.
