Rock Solid future for University of Derby Minerals Products Course Graduates
The Class of ‘23 on the BSc (Hons) Mineral Products Management course at the University of Derby’s Centre for Mineral Products has carved its success in stone with almost 80 per cent achieving a First Class or 2:1 honours degree.
This year’s oversized cohort comprised a total of 37 students, half of whom had been held back a year due to the impact on studies of the COVID pandemic. The BSC (Hons) Mineral Products Management course was developed in partnership with the Institute of Quarrying (IQ).
Mark Osbaldeston MIQ is Head of Centre for Mineral Products at the University of Derby. He explains: “The assessment board met on March 1st to award students. Normally, for this programme, there are approximately 20 learners in a cohort in an academic year, but this year was exceptional due to the hangover from the pandemic. It has been a testing time for both our staff and our learners, and together we have achieved excellent results.
“The board was delighted to be able to award degrees first time round to 34 of the 37 students. The remaining three learners are on track to submit to the next board, which meets in June. Of the 34 successful students, 10 (29%) were awarded a First Class degree, 17 were awarded (50%) 2:1, five (15%) 2:2 and two (6%) received Thirds.
The BSc (Hons) Mineral Products Management is a part-time degree designed specifically for the mineral products industry to prepare its leaders and managers for the future. The blended learning course involves online modules (supported by face to face workshops), as well as a work based project.
James Thorne, Chief Executive Officer, IQ, says: “What a fantastic achievement by all of this year’s cohort. This success marks a significant milestone in the continual progression of the mineral products programmes at the University of Derby. Hanson’s Robin Gillespie was our first First Class student back in 2018, so we are now seeing a real raising of standards, which has to be of benefit to our industry.
“IQ’s partnership with the University of Derby is helping raise standards of professionalism throughout the industry, as more and more individuals and operators recognise the profound benefit of academic qualifications from higher apprenticeships through to honours degrees.
“The University’s Centre for Mineral Products delivers industry standard and globally recognised qualifications to the mineral products sector. We have a longstanding commitment to training and development in the mineral products industry and are extremely proud of all students who qualify in this field.”
Celebrating 100 years of professionalism
The Institute of Quarrying is the international professional body for quarrying, construction materials and the related extractive and processing industries, with over 6,000 members in some 50 countries of the world. Membership is open to individuals, rather than companies, and the Institute’s long-term objective is to promote progressive improvements in all aspects of operational performance through the medium of education and training.
The Institute believes education and training is a lifelong opportunity which should be viewed in the broadest terms, starting with initial qualifications gained at college, university or through distance learning programmes. This is followed by continuing professional development through attendance at conferences, seminars, training courses, competence assessment schemes, workshops, technical meetings, site visits and the updating of knowledge by reading the Institute’s journals, technical and management papers and handbooks.
