A brief update on Metcelerate

Metcelerate is a two year Professional Formation programme for mineral processing engineers. It is online and requires a few hours of learning each week and equips metallurgical professionals with the knowledge and practical skills they require to manage effectively metallurgical processes, assess risk and identify opportunities to enhance value. 

The Metcelerate program took in its first cohort of 45 learners in July 2000. Attendees came from around the globe; PNG, Australia, Ghana, Suriname, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Canada and the USA. This cohort is now completing the course, and the next cohort start in July of this year.

Metcelerate's Chief Financial Officer, Prof. Jan Cilliers, has sent me this brief update, and full details can be found on the website:

The Metcelerate program was developed with industry, based on a review of current training and critical gaps. This established the core topics and course content. 

The 20-month Metcelerate curriculum has seven taught modules (51 weeks in total) and a final Project, world-leading subject matter experts (Finch, Hadler, Seitz, Holtham, Napier-Munn and Wills, amongst others) having developed the training material as slides, videos, papers and exercises. E-learning specialists transformed this into on-line training material.

Successful course completions earn digital badges for sharing on social media, and printable certificates. Badges are certified through the London City and Guilds Institute. 

The Metcelerate programme is offered through companies that sponsor their learners. It requires commitment not only from learners, but also from site mentors; assignments and project must be agreed, monitored and evaluated. Buy-in across the company structure is essential, and has been a major factor in the success to date. 

Prof Cilliers says that both learner and company feedback has been very positive.