Technology management and innovation

UNSW Sydney School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering (MERE) is a leading provider of world-class education and research, and in 2022 ranked 3rd in the QS World University Rankings, and 8th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities. 

MERE specialises in undergraduate and postgraduate education, and also produces internationally acclaimed research, working closely with industry to provide innovative solutions to the minerals and energy resources industries. 

‘The School is at the forefront in creating opportunities for those interested in working towards a sustainable future through new and emerging fields,’ said Professor Serkan Saydam, Chair of Mining Engineering. 

With the best facilities in resources engineering in the country, UNSW Sydney researchers and graduates are addressing climate change and future challenges. Areas of focus include transformative technologies, geomechanics and geoenergy.

Technology Management in Mining has been part of the coursework program for a long time. In 2023, the name was altered to Technology Management and Innovation in Mining to reflect the innovation needs of the industry. 

Approximately 130 students study the Mining Engineering program. Technology Management and Innovation in Mining is one of the most popular courses, with typically 20 students enrolling annually.

Mining production is vital for global socio-economic development and is linked to almost every industry value chain. However, the current sustained global minerals demand, coupled with deeper orebodies, lower ore grades and extreme environmental conditions, presents challenges for the future. 

Technology integration is a major aspect of this challenge. Therefore, the course covers different mining operations and core technologies involved, historical and recent trends in mining technology developments, and the dynamic management needs of changing technologies. 

The course is designed to extend traditional learning and stimulate entrepreneurial ideas and ‘outside the box’ thinking. 

Students work individually and in small groups to explore how chosen innovations and new technologies fit within mining operation applications. They then evaluate the ideas through structured technology audits, risk assessments, implementation plans, capital justification and commercialisation opportunities for both Australian and international mining industries.

The course is coordinated by Professor Serkan Saydam and presenters include technology experts, technology company leaders and entrepreneurs.

Maptek Chairman, Peter Johnson has been contributing to delivery of the Technology Management and Innovation in Mining course for about 5 years.

‘We see a great opportunity for the industry. Mining professionals can certainly extract more value from technology solutions already deployed within their working environments, and should be able to achieve more frequent success with technology innovation,’ Johnson said.

‘A Maptek guiding principle is to walk in the shoes of our customers. So we can’t just create the best technology, we need to help them understand how to best apply the solutions for business improvement,’ he added.

Working closely with industry is a key contributor to the success of the innovative program.