The University of Alaska Southeast secured funds which will allow it to become the first school in the United States to operate a state-of-the-art mining simulator: announced Wednesday at a mining trade show in Juneau.

The simulator contains three modules which will allow students to train with different equipment in order to better prepare them for entry-level positions in mines, according to a release from UAS.

“This was the missing piece of the puzzle for training miners from Alaska to be productive and safe from the first day on the job,” said Dennis Steffy, director of the University of Alaska’s Mining and Petroleum Training Services, in the release. “It will vastly improve the opportunities of students for mining employment. In addition, salaries will stay in Alaska instead of going to other western states.”

Mining Essentials: A Work Readiness Training Program for Aboriginal Peoples, enhances relationships and cooperation among Aboriginal communities, educators and industry by supporting training and hiring goals outlined in many formal and informal agreements (i.e. IBAs).

Mining Essentials is the only pan-Canadian work readiness program for Aboriginal peoples in mining. The program aims to ensure Aboriginal peoples have the essential skills and workreadiness training needed to enter mining and to provide industry with a local, employment-prepared workforce.

Giant US company General Electric has announced plans for an $80 million technology and education centre at Perth's Jandakot airport.

Its global chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt made the announcement in Perth on Wednesday with federal Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs Minister Chris Evans.

Mr Immelt said the new facility would be a multi-purpose GE training, service and technology centre able to be expanded further in future.

It would help provide skills and training to support growth in Australia's oil and gas, energy, mining, transportation and water industries.

SKILLED workers will be able to fast-track to full trade qualifications in as little as 18 months.

Skills Minister Chris Evans said the Federal Government would also provide $200 million for training projects for skills in high demand.

The Government has accepted all 31 recommendations of the Resourcing the Future report, which outlines a blueprint for lifting the number of skilled workers available to the resources sector.

"Under the adult apprenticeship project, experienced workers will have their existing skills recognised and be given the opportunity to complete the competencies required in just 18 months," Senator Evans said in a statement.

Adults will soon be able to complete an apprenticeship in 18 months under a plan to provide an extra 1000 workers for the mining sector.

The Gillard Government is expected to announce today the $2 million in co-funding for the adult apprenticeship project that came out of an inquiry from Federal Labor MP Gary Gray into the jobs demand in the resources sector over the next 20 years.

Traditional apprenticeships take four years and the low pay is unattractive to older workers. Under the scheme, recruits can stay employed or join the workforce of a participating mining company.

A Financial Literacy workshop has been held for workers of the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), a mining company operating in Tarkwa, at the weekend.

The workshop, which was organised by the Financial Literacy Foundation (FLF), a financial consult, was to educate staff of GMC on the importance and risks associated with unwarranted borrowing.

The Chief Executive (CEO) of FLF, Mr. Bernard Otabil, educated the workers on the importance of salary management, and said that it was important to invest, rather than engage in unwarranted borrowing.

Mining in northern British Columbia received a shot in the arm on Monday. The College of New Caledonia will purchase heavy-haul truck and front-end loader simulators to provide virtual training for a total of 50 students each year, as part of the Mining Industry Certificate Program. The program will train students for employment as heavy equipment operators in surface mining operations located in northern B.C.

A Practical Mine Ventilation Design and Control short course will be offered by Missouri University of Science and Technology and the Western Mining Safety and Health Transition Center May 4-6, on Missouri S&T's campus. Those who complete the course will receive 24 professional development hours.

This three-day course will provide a sufficient background to design and maintain an underground ventilation system. The materials taught apply to most underground situations, including coal, metal, and nonmetal mines, with the emphasis on practical applications.

The course is designed for ventilation and planning engineers, safety engineers and production, technical and supervisory personnel who require proficiency or a refresher course in mine ventilation. For the computer simulation section, experience on the use of computers is helpful but not necessary.

Somerset - The coal mining industry didn’t learn much from the large number of retirements that occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, because it’s happening again, Blair McGill said.

“We’ve lost a generation,” he said. “Over half the managers could retire today if they want. To develop supervisors who can move to the second and third levels takes time and education.”

McGill worked in the mining industry in West Virginia for more than 43 years before his retirement. He was a supervisor in his early 20s.

The Pennsylvania State University Fayette Campus is offering a two-year mining technology associate degree program at the Allegany College of Maryland Somerset County Campus beginning in June. An informational session about the program was held at the college on Friday.