Maher Abbas Saudi Gazette RIYADH – The Saudi Mining Polytechnic (SMP) has signed a cooperation agreement recently with the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) to train 200 Saudi youth annually in the field of mining engineering. Under the $24-million accord, the university will, for a period of five years, provide SMP students, with the education and training programs for obtaining a diploma in surface and underground mining specializations. SMP, headquartered in Ar'ar, was established through a partnership between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). Khalid Saleh Al-Mudaifer, President and CEO of Ma'aden, said “developing the skills of the employees is one of the biggest challenges we are facing in order to support the expansion in mining projects in the Kingdom.” He added, “we are happy to enter into a partnership with Missouri University of Science and Technology so as to provide world-standard training in the first specialist polytechnic (in the Kingdom) for training workers in the mining industry, as the university has a long history of excellence and international partnerships.” Samuel Frimpong, professor and Chair of the Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering at Missouri S&T, said “this partnership provides the university with a big opportunity to develop the mining industry in the Kingdom. The polytechnic intends to graduate 200 Saudi youth annually distributed among several specializations, including treatment of minerals, surface mining and underground mining.” Cheryl B. Schrader, Chancellor of Missouri S&T, said “our university is proud of its deep-rooted heritage in providing the whole world with distinctive mining engineers. The history of this heritage dates back to the era of establishing the university in 1870 under the name Missouri School of Mines and Mining. We're happy to be part of this important partnership because we believe it will create a change in the mining industry in Saudi Arabia.” Fahd Al-Dehaish, Director General of the National Center for Strategic Partnerships at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), said “due to important developments going on in the Kingdom, the TVTC has a new vision, which is to quest for international standards.” He further said “we're now on the verge of entering into partnerships with the private sector to establish advanced institutes of technology that will graduate skilled citizens who are well-trained for technical jobs. This will help in putting a limit to unemployment and contribute in the development of the community and in economic growth.” – SG
