Industrial Placement & Project - 2019 entry

Students gain relevant work experience during their summer vacation period between years 2 and 3; undertaking an industrial placement at a surface or underground mine or within a mining-related discipline, often overseas. Research, data analysis and technical report writing skills are then tested in this module; which provides an opportunity for a student to report on their placement and to develop and demonstrate a thorough understanding of a related topic currently seen as important/significant to the mining industry. Satisfactory completion of the industrial placement report will entitle students to be awarded Associate of Camborne School of Mines (ACSM).

Relevant industrial experience is seen as an essential aid to successful employability and a key part of professional accreditation for a graduate mining engineer. Preparation of a technical report summarising the mining operation provides exposure to the reporting standards now prevalent in the mining industry.

Project/review topics will be agreed during the autumn term in collaboration with supervising staff and will usually reflect an aspect of the mining industry related to the recent industrial experience; either suggested/supported by the company or based on an interest sparked by the work undertaken or seen as pertinent to the student’s anticipated career path.

Well-researched and attractively presented reports can be used at job interviews to show the standard of professional work a student is capable of; while the knowledge gained from both the industrial placement and project can provide useful familiarisation when employment commences.

In addition to the individual work placement; an industrial tour to Sweden & Finland precedes the third year and provides an important insight into the design, manufacture and use of key mining equipment.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Gain skills in data research, acquisition and interpretation;

2 Demonstrate the ability to write a technical report to industry reporting standards;

3 Increase their knowledge about a specific aspect of mining or a related field;

4 Analyse data in order to form a conclusion with respect to a particular aspect of the project. Particular emphasis is placed on innovative thought and discussion.
 

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

5 Develop enhanced report-writing and verbal communication skills;

6 Develop learning skills (especially independent study, taking responsibility for own learning and communications), planning and implementing courses of action, time management.

Industrial Placement

During the summer vacation prior to entering the final year, each student is required to obtain practical experience by undertaking a period of at least eight weeks duration working within the mining/minerals related industries. The student is expected to spend time acquiring sufficient information concerning the operation to enable preparation of a satisfactory technical report, c.20 pages, on the operation, to be submitted in the second half of the autumn term. Satisfactory completion of the industrial placement report will entitle students to be awarded Associate of Camborne School of Mines (ACSM).

An industrial tour (usually to Sweden & Finland) also precedes the third year and is reported on by students through preparation of an A2 sized poster.

Mining Project

During the second semester of the final year, an individual project or literature review is undertaken by each student on a topic related to the course or to the industrial placement undertaken. The exact objectives are agreed by individual negotiation with the module leader. Project/review work culminates in submission of a written report of c.12 pages length at the end of the second term.

As above, one piece of coursework based on referred/deferred element 100%

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Reading list for this module: