UQ: Stone for Development Work Integrated Learning

Fiji | Summer semester 2022/2023

Program dates: 21 November 2022 – 16 February 2023

Development Minerals such as sand, gravel and crushed stone are locally sourced materials used in local development and are among the most commonly used commodities in the world. Sustainable and reliable sourcing of Development Minerals is of critical importance to resilient infrastructure development and climate change adaptation, and this is particularly true in Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Fiji. As demand for Development Minerals increases over time, there is a growing need for skilled and experienced technical professionals in the sector.

The Work Integrated Learning program in the Pacific

The Stone for Development Work Integrated Learning program will introduce participants to the challenges of sustainable development, through the lens of Development Minerals in the Pacific. The program is an initiative of the Development Minerals Program at The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, funded by UNESCO. Stone for Development partners include the Fiji Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources; the Pacific Community (SPC) and Fiji National University.

Participants from the Pacific will attend with the support of the UNESCO’s International Geoscience Programme and the OACPS-EU Development Minerals Program, an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, financed by the European Union and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and implemented by UNDP.

Development Minerals are crucial inputs for infrastructure, housing, road building, manufacturing and agriculture; and support the livelihoods of millions of people working in domestic artisanal, small and medium sized businesses. They are especially important in the context of disaster reconstruction and climate change adaptation infrastructure such as sea walls. This program will provide a rich learning experience for students that builds understanding of sustainable development challenges in a critically important sector of economies in the Pacific and other regions. The opportunity to interact with various private, public, and non-profit organisations will provide future opportunities and nurture new multidisciplinary skills – including fieldwork skills. The course also provides a rare opportunity for participants to interact with students across the Pacific to enhance cross-cultural exchange and learning, as well as to strengthen collaboration between UQ and the region.

Program requirements

The program involves 40-hours of training at UQ’s St. Lucia campus (with Pacific-based students attending online), followed by a two-week (80hr) field component, working with local partners to evaluate the ways in which Development Minerals contribute to local development, as well as to address challenges in their extraction.

It is delivered in conjunction with the Science Industry Placement course (SCIE3050) at The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Science. Students must be eligible to enrol in SCIE3050 in Summer Semester 2022/2023 to participate in the program. The prerequisite for enrolment in SCIE3050 is successful completion of a minimum of 24 units towards current program, including a minimum of 8 units of level 2 or higher courses, by the end of the previous semester, and an expected GPA cut-off of 5.0. Students are responsible for determining whether they have ‘room’ in their program to undertake SCIE3050 as an elective. Check your program rules and your study planner to ensure that this course will not impact on your ability to meet the requirements of your major/program. When you have established that SCIE3050 will fit in your program, you can then register your interest in the course.

The Stone for Development program is recommended for students in the following disciplines:

• Bachelor’s Degree/Master of Environmental Management

• Bachelor’s Degree of Environmental/Earth Science, Chemistry, Geography, Biology and Physics.

• All the engineering disciplines and architecture, especially Mech/mining and Civil Engineering

• Development Studies and Business

Science students:

Before considering enrolment, you need to determine whether you have ‘room’ in your program to undertake SCIE3050. Check your program rules and your study planner, meet with an academic advisor, or request a ‘progress check’ to ensure that this course will not impact on your ability to meet the requirements of your major or program.

Non-Science students:

If your program is not managed by the Faculty of Science (e.g. BEL, EAIT and HASS students), you must contact your Faculty to apply for approval to include SCIE3050 as an elective in your program.

Postgraduate students (Master of Environmental Management):

If you are interested in enrolling in SCIE3050 you need to email the program coordinator A/Prof Paul Dargusch (p.dargusch@uq.edu.au) with a request to enroll in “SCIE3050 ‘Fiji-sustainable mining project’”, provided that you have not completed more than 4 units of off list courses. Students that have completed more than 4 units of off list courses and still wish to participate in the program need to get approval to enroll in SCIE3050 from the Associate Dean Academic, Professor Susan Rowland.

When you’ve established that SCIE3050 will fit in your program, fill in the Expression of Interest form online.