EIT-labelled course generates new talent and future leaders in the mining industry

The requirements of future specialists and leaders in the mining and mineral industry calls for knowledge in several fields. Robust competences in engineering skills are needed, but also soft skills like collaboration, leadership and communication are of great importance. Such abilities can be effectively attained by multi-cultural and multi-national education.

The European Mining Course (EMC), is one of the oldest ongoing International programs at Aalto University. It is a triple-degree Master’s program in which participants study together in three universities: Aalto University, RWTH Aachen in Germany and TU Delft in the Netherlands. 

The European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT RawMaterials) awarded a quality label for EMC on the 27th of June, 2017. EIT grants this label only to selected programs throughout Europe that demonstrate a remarkable quality in terms of educational innovation, internationalization, entrepreneurship and societal impact. EMC was granted the label based on the program’s longstanding tradition and the ability to adapt itself to changing circumstances over the years.

The direct impact of the EIT-label is additional funding from the European Union to develop courses in the topics of circular economy, raw materials processing and entrepreneurship. Most of the EMC courses are shared with regular Aalto Master’s programs. The reward will therefore benefit all Aalto students participating in these joint courses. This prestigious label also stimulates dissemination and increases the attractiveness of Aalto University for top-level international student candidates. 

Among the educational initiatives supporting EMC, is the Circular Economy Design Forum (CEDF), an EIT Raw Materials supported action coordinated by Aalto University. The CEDF has provided a platform to train entrepreneurship and develop courses with new educational approaches on the raw materials production chain. This is well in line with Aalto University’s educational strategy, as it brings design, innovation, technology and business together in a project-based course.

More information:

Professor Rodrigo Serna
School of Chemical Engineering
rodrigo.serna@aalto.fi

Professor Mikael Rinne
School of Engineering
mikael.rinne@aalto.fi