13 April 2005

To help combat the national shortage of mining engineers, Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd has donated $500,000 to fund education programs in mining engineering at the University of New South Wales.

The fund will support a range of educational activities at UNSW. They include:

• The upgrading and replacement of computing facilities provided for mine planning and design in the Mitsubishi Computing Laboratory.
• Rural scholarships for undergraduate students studying or proposing to study in UNSW's School of Mining Engineering.
• Postgraduate Research Scholarships

The donation will be paid in $100,000 instalments over five years. UNSW will contribute at least 20 percent of the contributions made by Mitsubishi Development when each instalment is received.

This is the second large donation from Mitsubishi Development. In 2003, the company donated $150,000 to UNSW to fund education and research activities in surface mining.

"Mitsubishi Development has now had a relationship with the University of NSW for the past two years," said Mitsubishi chief executive officer Mr Tetsuro Terada. "We are delighted with the way that has progressed over that time.

"The creation of this Endowed Fund will assist greatly in the continuation of future and ongoing funding for education, so critical for the mining industry. The establishment of this fund enhances that partnership we have with the University."

UNSW's Dean of Engineering Professor Brendon Parker said Mitsubishi's generous contribution would help UNSW'S mining program contribute a growing number of graduates to the 150 required by industry every year.

"Our intake of mining students increased by 40 percent last year but our numbers need to keep steadily increasing if we are to help satisfy industry need."

The Dean of Engineering, Professor Brendon Parker, Mitsubishi Development CEO Mr Tetsuro Terada, Marketing and Development Director Clare Taylor and Deputy Vice Chancellor International and Development Professor John Ingleson.