Preamble

Mining in Africa, as in the rest of the world,has changed from simply balancing production targets with cost control to a complex set of interrelationships including safety, health, the environment, sustainable development and proactive stakeholder management. This programme is aimed at providing an interdisciplinary postgraduate qualification that highlights the critical factors of sustainable development in the context of mining and minerals processing in Africa; including an understanding of, and a sensitivity and progressive approach to, managing and interacting with communities, environmental challenges, safety cultures, health-related issues and regulatory frameworks.

Programme Description

This two-year Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Degree is offered by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town, through the Department of Chemical Engineering, and accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of South Africa. Candidates are required to complete advanced study by coursework with a total value of 60 credits,and a research dissertation with a value of 120 credits. This programme has been developed as part of the Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) project of the United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP). A twin programme is run at the University of Zambia and the coursework is jointly taken by the two cohorts, with one course offered Stellenbosch University.

Objectives

This MPhil degree aims to educate and train graduates who can develop knowledge at an advanced level in and around the African mining industry, through research. In particular, it aims to:

• Impart a high-level understanding of, and a sensitivity and progressive approach to, the critical factors of sustainable development in the context of mining and minerals processing in Africa.
• Develop an appreciation of the inter-relationships between safety, health, the environment, economic development and proactive stakeholder management, and the concomitant integration of technical skills, ethics and global citizenship.
• Promote experimentation with interdisciplinary and systemic approaches to environmental protection and socio-economic development in the context of geo-extractive industries in Africa.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

This programme targets graduates from across a spectrum of disciplines, who have an interest in pursuing or advancing their careers in the field of mining and minerals beneficiation in a variety of areas e.g. geologists, engineers, economists, planners, lawyers, regulators, health & safety specialists, environmental officers, social scientists, etc.

The basic entry requirement is a four-year Bachelor’s degree or an Honours degree in any relevant field. HND (Higher National Diploma) or its equivalent embodying relevant specialization will be considered as a basis for entry, subject to appropriate experience. The number of students accepted into the programme in any year will be restricted by the resource capacity of the programme. Selection is based on an applicant's academic record; the duration, level and relevant work experience; and the availability of a suitable programme and research project supervisor. In keeping with the inter- and cross-disciplinary nature of this programme, selection is also be aimed at promoting diversity amongst the students in terms of fields of study, expertise and/or experience.

In order to be accepted onto this programme, candidates are required to submit a 1000 word statement of interest in the Master's programme, together with a CV, to the course convener Professor Harro von Blottnitz (harro.vonblottnitz@uct.ac.za). This statement should include a motivation for attending the course and a short statement on the area(s) the candidate is considering for the research dissertation. Further information and procedures for formal application are available from the programme administrator, Mrs Eunice Jacobs (eunice.jacobs@uct.ac.za).

Applicants for the 2017 intake are invited to indicate whether they want to initially register as an occasional student taking the course work only, or immediately register for the full degree programme, either on a part time or full time basis. Applications will be accepted until the end of October 2016.

Course Delivery

Core courses are delivered in blocks of approximately 10 days each within the first year of study, with attendance by the entire cohort of students from the two universities involved.

Course assignments are presented via on-line learning systems, and contact with the students is maintained via the internet and e-mail. The research project accounts for 67% of the total course credits for the Masters degree, and is undertaken within the second year of study, through the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Inter-disciplinary research is promoted through the joint supervision of student dissertations across faculties and universities.

* In accordance with the HEQF model, 10 hours is equivalent to 1 credit, with contact/lecture time accounting for approximately 1/5 of total time.

Fees and Financial Support

The total cost of the programme is made up of course fees to the three universities plus accommodation costs whilst attending the block courses at the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch, the Graduate School of Business in Cape Town and the School of Mines in Zambia. Total direct costs for the two-year MPhil programme are estimated at R103 000. This includes course fees at R 44 000 for year 1 (2017) and R 24 000 for year 2 (2018), excluding the international student fee. Ancillary costs amounting to R 35 000 will cover accommodation, catering and transport during the coursework periods. Fees do not cover internship (transport, accommodation, subsistence etc.) and research (fieldwork, laboratory running costs, analytical costs etc.) costs. Transport to and from these venues will also be to the candidate’s own cost.

Funding is available on a competitive basis to enable participation in the short courses (South African students only), for internships (all students registered for the full MPhil) and research costs (for specific deliverables). Applicants are advised to contact the course administrator for further details regarding financial arrangements and funding opportunities.