The Graduate Diploma in Coal Mine Strata Control will be offered in semester one 2003 as a specialist postgraduate coursework qualification for people who work in the underground coal mining industry with responsibilities in the field of strata control.
Postgraduate co-ordinator, Professor Bruce Hebblewhite said the program has been designed to cater for people with different backgrounds, including either engineering or scientific tertiary qualifications and, or relevant experience. The program may be undertaken as either a part-time or full-time student.
The overall program content provides an initial grounding in fundamental principles of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, followed by a comprehensive coverage of practical strata control applications, from the point of view of both the technologies involved, together with their implementation and management.
"The learning outcomes of this program will therefore provide a student with both the fundamental and practical knowledge base to be able to fulfil the role of a mine Strata Control Engineer," Hebblewhite said.
"The program is particularly designed for people working at mine sites, or those who have access to a mine site for practical assignments."
The course is offered in a flexible delivery format, with a large component available in a distance format, plus a limited number of face to face workshops/sessions. Assessments will include a number of practical, site-based assignments, including group and interactive work and presentations.
The program consists of 6 core courses, each worth 6 units of credit, to satisfy the program requirement of 36 units of credit. All courses will be presented in a block or distance mode, which should take 18 months to complete.
The six courses are as follows:
- Fundamentals of rock behaviour for underground mining
- Geotechnical assessment for underground mining
- Mining excavations in rock
- Coal mining methods, mine planning and applied geomechanics
- Ground control principles and practice in underground coal mining
- Operational geotechnical management (underground coal mining)
Additional details may be obtained from Professor Bruce Hebblewhite, or Admin. Assistant, Kim Russell, K.Russell@unsw.edu.au
