In an attempt tokeep South Africa at the forefront of the mining world, Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) will inject R8 million into the University of Johannesburg (UJ)’s mining engineering faculty over the next three years.
South africa’s brain drain has had a dramatic impact on the mining industry, and core skills needed to sustain the local mining industry had been lost, either through emigration or retirement.
Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields, said: “The industry is currently facing a skills gap crisis. The partnership with the University of Johannesburg will help ensure that we create a pipeline of qualified graduates who can benefit Gold Fields and the industry in general.”
Professor Ihron Rensburg, Vice-Chancellor of the University added: “ This partnership provides a meaningful learning experience to the nation’s brightest young minds. It is encouraging to see forge partnerships that contribute to the development of the industry it operates in.”
UJ will receive a once-off capital injection of R2 million, followed by R2m a year for the next three years.
In terms of the sponsorship agreement, the university will receive a once off capital injection of R2m followed by R2m a year for three years. In return Gold Fields is afforded naming right status for the infrastructure that it sponsors, which includes a new mining laboratory. It will be the University’s first mining laboratory. UJ is one of the only four institutions in the country with mining engineering on offer.
Article by Univeristy of Johannesburg
