First Nations students to use Delta Mine Training Center
February 13, 2014
The University of Alaska and Yukon College have signed an agreement that allows UA
to train 20 First Nations students from Canada using the Delta Mine Training Center in Interior Alaska.
A mix of First Nations students and Yukon resident students are currently in training
as part of the agreement, using curriculum developed by UA's Mining and Petroleum Training Service and the Whitehorse-based Yukon College. The students have the benefit of one of the state's premier underground mine training
centers in Delta as part of this agreement, a partnership UA hopes to build upon in
the future and a key step in UA's Consolidated Alaska Mining Initiative. That initiative
is aimed at meeting the skilled workforce needs of the mining industry.
"Since 1979, MAPTS has provided quality entry-level underground miner training, safety
training and a solid mining curriculum," said Bill Bieber, MAPTS executive director.
"Through this partnership with Yukon College,
we're expanding into an area that holds great promise."
The Delta Mine Training Center features an underground mine, rock and gravel quarries,
100 acres of training area, and equipment and machinery necessary for modern mining
and construction training. UA's MAPTS program has one underground mining simulator
located in Juneau and facilities in Soldotna, Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Bieber
said nothing beats actual hands on operational experience in an underground and surface
mine setting.
The first underground mining students are expected to graduate from the program March
9. The program will include employability skills, safety and environmental compliance,
underground utilities, underground rock bolting, jackleg drilling, and underground
load, haul and dump truck operation.
Students who complete the program and meet competency benchmarks will be job ready
for several mining companies operating in the Yukon. Graduating students will have
over 30 operating hours in a mine setting by the time the course is completed.
This partnership has provided MAPTS the ability to jointly develop and test the curriculum,
establish a lease of the Delta facility and build capacity to provide long-term Alaska-based
training. In addition, Yukon College has agreed to allow MAPTS the continued use
of its two large-capacity simulators, which will remain located at the Delta facility
when the Yukon
College program is not using them. This program was completely funded by the Yukon
College and its governing council.
MAPTS is currently planning to conduct the same training course for Juneau-based students
in April, using the resources, curriculum and experience gained from this agreement.