University Certificate in International Quarry Operations

Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

• This is the first purpose designed online course available to aggregate producers worldwide. You can study from anywhere in the world - all you need is access to the internet.
  
• It has been developed by the University of Derby in partnership with the Institute of Quarrying - the international professional body for the quarry product industries.
  
• It has been designed to appeal to a wide audience, so you'll benefit from mixing with managers, international students, consultants and suppliers to the quarry industry who are from countries including Poland, Romania, India, China, Malaysia, Ghana, Nigeria and Eire.
  
• As well as developing your practical knowledge in areas including health and safety, use of explosives, mineral extraction and engineering, you'll learn about business and management practices in the quarrying industry.

About the course

This course is ideal for:

• Managers and Assistant Managers operating overseas who have significant experience but limited qualifications who wish to improve their level of competence within the industry.
• International students who already possess a degree in a related subject (e.g. mining engineering), but who need quarrying knowledge to specialise in surface extraction techniques.
• Employees from international industry suppliers/manufacturers who would like to gain knowledge of quarrying in order to better serve their specific industry customers.
• Consultants who would like to gain knowledge in a wider sense within the international quarrying environment in order to support the service that they provide.

You will study four subject areas:

• Quarry development and management systems
• Extraction and processing
• Operational best practice
• Quarry blasting.

You will examine the principles, concepts, theories and methodologies that underpin the extractives industry, so promoting a safe, healthy and environmentally conscious place of work. You will also develop your knowledge of efficient and effective business and management practices in the mineral extraction industries.

The course starts in March and takes one academic year of part time study to complete. You will study online. Exams take place in January.

• Download the full course information

What our students say

"As the leading manufacturer of mobile quarry equipment Terex needed to further develop our team members understanding of the end customer requirements. We felt this programme would suit our needs perfectly. We enrolled a number of our key applications and customer facing team members on the course to give them an in-depth appreciation of the demands of the modern quarry and mining operations. It's been a huge success and we intend to continue the training to further develop additional team members."

Tony Devlin, MP Group Engineering Director, Terex

"In our area of customer and product support it is vital that we have a solid understanding and appreciation for all areas involved with quarrying and mining operations the world over. This course presented an opportunity to cover all aspects involved with quarrying and mining operations, from basic geology right up to operations and blasting technology.The content of the course was extremely thorough. The structure allowed me to absorb the material without being overwhelmed by all the information. 

The knowledge gained has given me more confidence when communicating with our dealers on mining and quarrying applications, as well as boosting my credibility in this field."

Wayne Van Antwerpen, Terex

"On behalf of Hap Seng Building Materials Sdn Bhd, I express my gratitude to the Institute of Quarrying for providing an excellent opportunity, through the online University Certificate in International Operations, for our young managers to gain valuable industrial knowledge which will assist them in their developing careers. Our graduates speak highly of the content and applicability of the course and appreciate the opportunity to participate. 

The exposure to international perspectives is especially important and I expect that we will see benefits in the operations when they start to apply what they have learned.  I hope to continue the relationship with the IQ and will be enrolling a further students."

Andy Talling, Operations Director, Hap Seng

How you'll learn

You will study online. The learning materials are divided into several releases and made available electronically to you.

The amount of time that you need to dedicate to study will vary from student to student but 'little and often' should be the philosophy. Experience has shown that a study period of at least 12 hours per week is needed if the work contained in the releases is to be completed, and, to adequately prepare for a satisfactory outcome in the examinations.

Employers are recommended to allow regular opportunity for study during normal working hours.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through a mixture of coursework (30%) and examinations which take in your country of residence (70%).

Assessment within this programme is designed to recognise the diverse international nature of the student body and the contexts in which you will be learning. The blended learning approach, coupled with a variety of ssessment styles makes the most of feedback opportunities enabling you to see assessment as an integral part of your learning process, moving you forward, preparing you for the more summative assessments at the conclusion of the learning programme.

Anything else?

To find out more or apply

Please contact the Institute of Quarrying:

Julian Smallshaw MIQ
Training and Education Manager
Institute of Quarrying
julian.smallshaw@quarrying.org
www.quarrying.org
+44 (0) 7870 737645

About the teaching team

Mark Osbaldeston FHEA, BEng, MIQ, AMIA
Originally an apprenticed trained Mechanical/Mining/Production engineer, Mark started his career in the quarrying/road
construction industry in 1995.

He has over ten years operational and management experience with ARC/Hanson - hardstone, sand and gravel, coated stone, concrete, landfill and recycling - and six years lecturing experience with the Institute of Quarrying, Doncaster College and the University of Derby, in the subject areas of quarry technology, quarry blasting, business management and engineering. In 1998 he was awarded his Quarry/Construction degree.

Mark is:

• provision Leader for quarry, asphalt and concrete programmes at the University of Derby
• a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• a Bachelor of Engineering
• a Member of the Institute of Quarrying.

Mark is supported by a team of individuals you'll meet on University Certificate in International Quarry Operations.

Derek Bunting MHEA, Cert Ed, DDQ, MIQ
Derek is a Senior Lecturer with over 20 years' experience. He has extensive knowledge within the extractives industry having held a variety of managerial positions before lecturing, and is a member of the Institute of Quarrying.

Jeff Froggatt BSc Hons Mining Eng, C Eng
Jeff is a Senior Lecturer and a qualified mining engineer with Chartered status. He has held managerial positions in deep
mining through British Coal before transferring to lecturing firstly at Doncaster College and latterly at the University of Derby. He is a member of the Institute of Quarrying.

Bob Davies
Bob is one of our Industry Specific Lecturers specialising in engineering. He is currently Engineering and Maintenance
Manager at MQP Cliffe Hill Quarry, Leicestershire, one of the largest hardstone quarries in the UK. He worked for 27 years in "deep mining", his last role as Deputy Engineering Manager within the British Coal Selby complex. Bob is a member of the Institute of Quarrying.

Bernard Sidaway
Bernard is one of our Industry Specific Lecturers specialising in Electricals. He has held a variety of roles within electrical
project management. He currently works at TATA Steel and is involved in preparation and installation of large capital projects.

About the Institute of Quarrying

The Institute of Quarrying is the international professional body for quarrying, construction materials and the related extractive and processing industries, with 6,000 members in some 50 countries worldwide. Membership is open to individuals, rather than companies, and the Institute's long-term objective is to promote progressive improvements in all aspects of operational performance through the medium of education and training at supervisory and management level.

The Institute, like the University, believes education and training is a life-long opportunity, which should be viewed, in the broadest terms, starting with initial qualifications gained at college, university or through distance-learning programmes followed by continuing professional development through attendance at conferences, seminars, training courses, competence assessment schemes, workshops, technical meetings, and site visits.

• Find out more about membership of the Institute and how it will benefit you