We need YOUR support

A group of companies in the mineral industry established this fund in 1999. The pooled resources aim to address and resolve elements of the tertiary education crisis.

What is the METF's goal?

As a body the METF provides a means to:

• Pool industry resources for the support of tertiary education in the South African minerals industry.
• Jointly seek solutions to tertiary education challenges.
• Achieve a cohesive approach to the provision of industry support.

Why does METF need your support?

The quality of graduates and diplomates staffing our industry is under threat, for the following reasons:

• Depletion of available academic staff either to industry or overseas universities.
• Decreased state funding to tertiary institutions offering minerals-related education.
• Student numbers and academic quality of students entering the field are no longer being maintained.
• Drop in real value of industry support. As many industry partners as possible should be drawn in to maintain the pool of funds supporting institutions
• The industry needs to address staff development locally, because of national Skills Development and Employment Equity imperatives.

Unless industry acts jointly to counter these threats, suitably qualified staff will not be available to
the South African minerals industry in the future.

How does the METF work?

The aim of the Fund is to support, promote and advance the interest of minerals education in South Africa. It achieves this by providing the beneficiaries with funds that are used primarily to supplement academic salaries in the disciplines of Mining, Metallurgy/Chemical Engineering and Geology.

The Board has agreed to apportion the budget to correlate with the number of graduates/diplomates employed in the three disciplines, in each company. Participating companies provide support towards the disciplines in which they actually have employees. For example, their contribution augments academic salaries in the particular discipline proportionate to the number of graduates/diplomates they have in that discipline.

Has the METF taken over the function of the Chamber Programme?

The Trust Fund grew out of the Chamber of Mines Education Fund but is now a completely separate Fund no longer allied to the Chamber. The METF was constituted by a Trust Deed. A sub-committee represents each of the three disciplines and each participating company is entitled to sub-committee representation. The board provides the policy framework and direction, while the sub-committees implement policies for each of the respective disciplines. Board Members are appointed from amongst the participating companies.

Structures of the METF

Trustee and Chairman of the Board.
Mr Wilco Uys - tele (013) 687-5258, e-mail - wilco.uys@bhpbilliton.com

Chairman of the Metallurgy Sub-committee.
Dr Jacques Eksteen, e-mail - Jacques.eksteen@lonmin.com

Chairman of the Mining Sub-committee
Mr Mike Livingstoneblevins - tele (011) 638-2476, e-mail - mlivingstoneblevins@angloamerican.co.za

Chairman of the Geology Sub-committee
Dr Dirk Harney - tele (011) 638-2961 , e-mail - dharney@angloamerican.co.za

Who currently participates?

AEL
Africa Rainbow Minerals (ARM)
Anglo Operations
AngloGold
Anglo Platinum
Aveng Grinaker-LTA
Bateman
BHP Billiton Energy Coal
De Beers Consolidated Mines
De Beers Group Services
DRA Mineral Projects
Exxaro
Goldfields
Harmony
Hatch Africa
Impala Platinum
Kangra Coal (Pty) Limited
Kumba Iron Ore
Lonmin Platinum
Minova
Mintek
Multotec
Optimum Coal
Outotec
Samancor Manganese
Sound Mining Solutions
Sandvik Mining and Consulting
Sasol Mining
Shanduka Coal
Turgis Consulting
TWP Projects
Xstrata Alloys
Xstrata Coal

Any company that is involved in the wider minerals industry in South Africa can participate in the Trust. To this end, the Trust is continuing to solicit involvement by the broadest possible scope of Mineral Industry companies.

We urge you to give your support to the METF initiative. This will ensure that standards are maintained in those disciplines, which are the lifeblood of our industry.

Links

South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Who do you contact if your company wishes
to support the METF?

For further information please contact:
Margaret Bennetts
Career Wise (Pty) Ltd
PO Box 30632 Braamfontein 2017
Tel: (011) 706-0923 or (011)484 7505 Fax: : 086 602 8911
e-mail: margaretb@careerwise.co.za

Career Wise (Pty) Ltd are the administrators of the
Minerals Education Trust Fund