Innovative training of highly qualified personnel for the mining industry in the Far East Federal District: A case-study of the Khabarovsk Krai

Abstract

The mining sector in the Russian Far East is a historically critical element of the region economy owing to the unique quality and size of local mineral resources. Many large mining projects are in progress or being scheduled. The present social and economic conditions necessitate initiation of integrated regional training of qualified engineering and operating personnel to meet the manpower needs of the existing and new industries. In this respect, under the author’s initiative, the region introduced an interdepartmental professional mining personnel training system including government bodies, municipal authorities, institutions of education, culture, sport, youth policy and science, as well as mining companies. The vocational-oriented education and training of personnel for the mining industry in the Khabarovsk Krai promoted the image of mining professions. The vocational-oriented education can be included both in schooling and in out-of-school activities and visits to production sites. As a result, applicants of professional education institutions take all study places at the courses on mining. The next landmark on the way of professional mining education development in the region should be integration of isolated training systems of the Far Eastern districts into a uniform qualified personnel training system within the Far East Federal District and the Russian Federation. The spread of this experience can stimulate education migration to FED from the other federal subjects of Russia and, consequently, can foster inhabitancy of skilled workers in the Far East of Russia, which is promising for the progressive advance of this region.