Mineral security exists when all people have sufficient and affordable access to the minerals necessary for human development and security, including for shelter, mobility, communication, energy, and sustenance.
The Mineral Security Masterclass in an initiative of the Global Centre for Mineral Security at The University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), and is supported by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization International Geosciences Program (UNESCO-IGCP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Minerals Resources (KIGAM) and the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship Scheme.
2025 Program dates
- Online short-course | 27 October – 30 October 2025
- Fiji Work Placement | 24 November – 5 December 2025
- Malawi Work Placement | 1 December – 12 December 2025
The Mineral Security Masterclass is a fantastic opportunity to gain knowledge and hands-on experience on the relationship between minerals, human development and poverty alleviation.
The Masterclass consists of two components:
- Free online short-course: Fifteen hours of online training, discussions and lectures delivered over five days and two time zones.
- Sponsored field work placement for selected applicants: A two-week (80 hour) field placement for selected candidates to work with local partners on hands on mineral security projects. This year, we will be holding work placements in two countries, Fiji and Malawi, open to applicants in those, and neighbouring countries.
The placement offers a rich learning experience that deepens participants’ understanding of how mineral security can support human development and poverty alleviation. By engaging with a range of private, public, and non-profit organisations, participants will gain exposure to diverse perspectives about minerals and their role in development and will develop new multidisciplinary skills, including project design and fieldwork capabilities. The program also fosters cross-cultural exchange and learning, while strengthening global collaborative networks.
Key learning objectives for participants are:
- Understanding the concept of mineral security and the interconnections between minerals (including development minerals), poverty alleviation, human development and security.
- Understanding the context in which the specific sustainable development and mineral security challenges are situated (e.g. learning about the environment, society and economy).
- Developing interdisciplinary problem-solving skills.
- Understanding the geology, minerology, and industrial processes involved in minerals necessary for human development.
- Understanding the interconnections between ecosystems, minerals, industry, human development, and consumers (systems thinking).
- Learning effective communication skills to help translate research into action.
- Contributing to solving a real-life problem.
- Learning effective communication skills to help translate research into action.
If you or your organisation is interested in sponsoring or supporting candidates to attend the Masterclass, please contact Paul Rogers (p.rogers@uq.edu.au).
Masterclass components and to apply
More information
For further enquiries contact Bora Aska
Past project outcomes
The Mineral Security Masterclass, was formerly known as Stone for Development which ran successfully for several years.