Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development - 2025 entry

This module covers the vital industry issues of corporate social responsibility, social license to operate, stakeholder engagement, health & safety and political & environmental factors that affect mining decisions. The module explores how environmental impact is measured, monitored and controlled, and what sustainability means in the context of mining. It also explores international and local mining legislation, expectations of local people in mining regions, and the long- and short-term impacts of mining on a local and national scale with a particular focus on the social, economic and environmental impacts of mine closure. The module covers the key aspects of health and safety management that future managers, engineers and scientists will need to know and find useful in their future lives and careers.

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Evaluate the principles of the socio-environmental impacts of mining.

2. Explain the challenges of sustainability, CSR and governance.

3. Understand the complex relationship between stakeholders.

4. Summarize the social, economic and environmental issues associated with mining.

5. Appreciate the ever-increasing role of health and safety in industry and be able to design and implement effective health and safety systems to minimize exposure to risk

6. Assess and manage major hazards in the mining industry;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

7. Identify good industry practice and analyse its long- and short-term impact on society and the environment.

8. Apply theories of corruption, governance and economic reforms to mining policies in developed and developing countries;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

9. Have specific knowledge that will enable you to pursue further academic studies, work in international development, private and public sectors;

10. Communicate effectively through oral presentation, research and writing, and effectively monitor, critically analyse and report on issues related to mining, CSR, SLO, Safety and current industry practice.

1. Introduction to Sustainable Development, Politics and Sustainable Mining

2. Environmental and social impacts of mining

3. Economics impacts of mining (downstream and side stream investments/activities)

4. Corporate social responsibility and the social license to operate

5. International best practice in mining (CSR, SLO)

6. Artisanal and small-scale miners

7. Mine closure and remediation

8. Accident Causation

9. Health & Safety Management Systems

10. Risk Management

11. Major Hazards

12. Safety Culture & Maturity