Introduction

History
The Mining Engineering Department at the University of Kurdistan officially began its activities in 1998 by admitting students to the Associate degree program in Mining Extraction. Since 2003, it has also admitted students to the Bachelor's degree program with a focus on Mining Exploration. Subsequently, starting in 2015, the Master's degree program was established by admitting students in the Mining Exploration specialization, and in September 2018, the Mining Extraction program was launched at the Bachelor's level. Furthermore, in 2022, student admissions began for the Master's program in Rock Mechanics. The department currently has 165 undergraduate students across various intakes and 25 Master's students.

This department, with its diverse educational and research laboratories and workshops in various fields of mining engineering, serves the academic community for executing student theses and even external organizations and companies. The department also consists of a young and experienced faculty (one full professor, two associate professors, three assistant professors, and one instructor) who contribute to educational and especially research services by publishing numerous articles in reputable journals. The educational activities of this department aim to provide specialized personnel for mines, mineral industries, dam construction, road construction projects, etc. Many graduates of this field are employed in various industrial and mining sectors of the province as employees, specialists, senior specialists, technicians, and entrepreneurs.

Short-term plans for the department include establishing Master's programs in Mining Extraction and a Ph.D. in Mining Exploration by 2027, launching a Master's program in Geophysics in the coming years, and expanding the faculty to 10 members.

Introduction to Mining Engineering
The field of Mining Engineering, due to its simultaneous connection with nature and utilization of various sciences, is one of the applied and attractive disciplines in the national university entrance exam, which candidates in the Mathematics and Technical Sciences group can choose. The rapid progress of industry and its increasing demand for various mining projects and access to mineral resources on one hand, and the growth and development of various sciences on the other, necessitate taking a significant step toward societal progress and excellence through proper and comprehensive planning, nurturing young talents, and optimal use of available tools and resources in society.

Importance and Necessity
The importance of minerals and mining dates back thousands of years, but unlike the past when individuals went to mines with shovels and picks, today, due to the high importance of this field, experts must oversee it. Therefore, the goal of offering and establishing this field is to train human resources or specialists who can evaluate and explore mineral reserves, assess support systems, and optimize extraction methods.

Mining Engineering is divided into four specializations: Mining Exploration, Mining Extraction, Mineral Processing, and Rock Mechanics. In the Exploration specialization, after minerals are discovered, the type and form of those minerals are identified and evaluated. In the Extraction specialization, the management and operation of mines are handled, overseeing various aspects such as drilling, support, etc. The Mineral Processing specialization deals with the extraction of ores and minerals, while the Rock Mechanics specialization focuses on the stability of slopes and spaces created by excavation. This broad scope defines the wide range of activities for a mining specialist.

Capabilities and Skills of Graduates

  • Utilizing geological information (maps, sections, etc.)

  • Determining the most suitable exploration method using technical and scientific information related to the exploration area

  • Designing an optimal preliminary exploration network (geophysics, geochemistry, and drilling)

  • Calculating baseline parameters, grade, ore reserve, and economic evaluation

  • Using data obtained during extraction operations to further specify baseline parameters, grade, and ore reserve

  • Analyzing the stability of mining structures, road construction, and dam construction, and examining the impact of various geological factors on them and mitigation methods

Career Opportunities for Graduates
Currently, our country's mining sector has an average growth rate of 6.5%, which must reach 15%. Achieving this growth requires technology-creating specialists, particularly in various fields of mineral extraction. Gaining access to global markets is only possible through quality control and standardization of mineral products. Today, we need interested and creative Mining Engineering graduates so that, without relying on foreign experts, we can witness the prosperity and increased exports in this sector. In addition to the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade, graduates of this field can work in the Ministry of Petroleum in drilling, the Ministry of Energy in groundwater and dam construction, workshops of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development for road and tunnel excavation, the Metro Company, and the Atomic Energy Organization.

Graduates of Mining Engineering can be employed in the following organizations:

  • Geological Survey and provincial Industries and Mines Organizations

  • Atomic Energy Organization

  • Ministry of Petroleum

  • Mining companies

  • Tunnel construction, dam construction, and road construction companies