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.”