Advanced human capital formation for the Digital and Sustainable Mining of the Future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin/136.4/002Keywords:
Digital and sustainable mining, Professional training, Advanced human capitalAbstract
The mining sector is undergoing profound transformations toward a digital and sustainable industry. In this scenario, it is essential to strengthen the training of professionals capable of leading the challenges of mining in the future, where specialized human resources are a key pillar for improving productivity, competitiveness, and innovation. However, there is still a gap between the demands of the sector and the training offered by Chilean universities, creating differences that require attention to technological, environmental, and social needs. This situation defines the formulation of the problem. On the other hand, the overall objective of this study is to identify the key curricular content that should be incorporated into the Civil Mining Engineering degree program in Chile. The research covered the period 2014-2023 and applied a methodology that combined a systematic literature review, documentary analysis, and guidelines for curriculum design in order to identify key content. The results showed significant discrepancies between academic offerings and industry demands, although the University of Chile and the University of Santiago de Chile showed fewer differences. The findings underscored the urgency of training human capital capable of leading Mining 4.0, integrating technological innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. It is concluded that updating curricula to incorporate skills aligned with global trends is a priority in order to consolidate competitive, sustainable, resilient mining with a forward- looking vision of the mining business value chain. This research is relevant in that it provides clear criteria for closing the gap between academia and industry.
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