REIMAGINING TRAINING IN MINING

An Innovation Showcase of Ed-Tech solutions that are changing the future of South Africa. ​

SHOWCASE BACKGROUND
Why are training innovations needed in mining?

The year 2020 showed that innovation and technology are vital to all industries as they seek to adapt to rapid change. The last year has seen intense focus on how innovation and technology can be used to serve and save humanity. In the face of unprecedented risk, every individual and organisation has been compelled to evaluate and change traditional ways of living and working. COVID-19 slowed the world down, but it accelerated change and the way industries react.

‘Ten insights into 4IR in Mining’, a report compiled by PwC in partnership with the Minerals Council and with the assistance of the Mandela Mining Precinct, identified that South African mining companies are, by their very nature, innovative, but there is significant room for the industry to embrace the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and innovation more readily. Key takeaways included the big role that technology innovation can have in the areas of Learning and Development for a more empowered workforce.
Safety, Health and Environment are expected to benefit from the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies.
The Minerals Council has identified the key role that training across the whole value chain plays in embedding Safe and Healthy practices and has supported the Minerals Council’s efforts to identify the best training solutions to enable these. 4IR tools are expected to deliver improved employee engagement and training to embed Health and Safety practices in every day working processes.

Organisations must prepare their workers to overcome the digital divide
Companies are already exploring new working practices to bring everyone into the digital era. Key interventions for this include (1) creating learning groups that team up digitally proficient staff with those less digital-savvy to raise the digital know-how across the organization, and (2) conscious investment into training staff for digital transformation.

THE FINAL SHOWCASE
30 September - 1 October 2021

DAY 1: VIRTUAL SHOWCASE

DAY 2: FINALIST PITCH BATTLE

The top candidates from the showcase applications will have their own virtual stalls to demo and network their solutions to key mining industry players. 

The top 6 finalists selected to potentially partner with Harmony Gold and pilot their solution on their mines will battle it out in a final pitch battle, where the judges will select the winners of the programme.

MEET THE TOP SIX FINALISTS
These companies will battle it out at the pitching den

MEET THE ORGANISATIONS
#MAKINGMININGMATTER
The Minerals Council South Africa and its partners, including the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS), have dramatically shifted the visibility of innovation in mining in South Africa and aims to continue making progress in the arena, with projects such as this one. The Minerals Council has also partnered with one of its member companies, Harmony Gold, to identify and put in practice impactful solutions in the training space.