Hokkaido University Hosts Queensland Government Minister Ros Bates for Educational Collaboration Meeting
On December 2, 2024, a meeting was held at the ANA InterContinental Hotel in Tokyo, involving The Honourable Ros Bates, Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, along with representatives from the Sustainable Resources Engineering Education Consortium (SREC). Among the participants were Professor Naoki Hiroyoshi and Professor Tsubasa Otake from Hokkaido University’s Graduate School of Engineering.
SREC Overview
SREC was established in April 2022 as a partnership between Hokkaido University, Kyushu University, and various private sector and public institution partners. The consortium’s primary objective is to improve educational frameworks for human resource development in the natural resources sector, featuring initiatives such as overseas student internships, corporate placements, and opportunities for industry experts to deliver lectures. Currently, SREC includes 21 private companies and 8 public institutions, with Queensland being a participant from the start.
Industry-Supported Internships
During the meeting, Professor Hiroyoshi provided an overview of SREC, highlighting how industry-supported internships enable Japanese students to acquire hands-on experience in Queensland’s natural resources sector. He pointed out that the program extends beyond mining training and includes corporate visits as part of its offerings.
International Collaboration
Minister Bates and Mr. Tak Adachi, Queensland Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for North Asia, acknowledged the importance of fostering international collaborations within the mining sector. The dialogue encouraged an exchange of ideas on human resource development in mining engineering, with participants expressing a mutual commitment to continuing the partnership.
Conclusion
The meeting concluded with positive reflections on the possibility of future collaborations.
(Source: Hokkaido University)
