Mining and Mineral Proceessing

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Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering.

Ag. Chairman, Mr. A.O. Ndegwa.
DAYTIME PHONE: 020 2437 268, 020 8150 246
EMERGENCY/DIRECT PHONE: 020 8150 246
FAX:
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DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

VISION
To be a centre of global excellence in the training, research and innovation for mineral development.

MISSION
To provide accessible quality training, research, and innovation in order to produce leaders in the field of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering to suit the needs of the mining & minerals industry, of governments, and of the academic world.

QUALITY STATEMENT
The Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering (MMPE) is committed to achievement of the highest quality standards and envisions itself as a centre of global excellence in training, research and innovation for mineral development. MMPE is committed to providing its customers and stakeholders with products and services that meet and exceed their expectations.

BACKGROUND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MMPE
The Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering Programme was established and admitted its first students during the 2005/2006 academic year in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the then Faculty of Engineering (later transformed into the College of Engineering and Technology (COETEC)) of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. It offers a BSc degree in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering. The course duration is 5 years.The MMPE programme launched by JKUAT is the first ever mining engineering course to be established in Kenya and to date JKUAT is the only university running this course. In East Africa the only other mining engineering programmes are being offered by the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

In 2008 JKUAT established a new campus known as TAITA TAVETA CAMPUS and set up the Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering. The purpose was to locate the MMPE programme right inside the gemstone belt where students would be daily interacting with mining activities and issues for the benefit of their practical training. The JKUAT Taita Taveta Campus ((TTC) is near the town of Voi which is two hours’ drive from the main coastal tourist city of Mombasa. TTC is just at the edge of the world famous Tsavo National Park with major tourist hotels just a few minutes’ drive from the Campus.

The pioneer class of 6 students at JKUAT Main Campus completed the five-year degree programme in December 2010 and are awaiting award of their degree certificates in the next JKUAT graduation ceremony to be held in July 2011.The JKUAT Taita Taveta Campus will have its first graduating MMPE students (25 in number) in July 2012.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINING ENGINEERS
The Mining Engineering degree programme is very broad, requiring understanding of such other engineering disciplines as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and Process Engineering. It also require understanding geology, engineering surveying, economics among others. As a result graduates of Mining Engineering have wide career options including employment: as Mining Engineers in mines, quarries and in cement manufacturing firms ; in government bodies and agencies (related to mining, energy development or environmental management); in consultancy firms in the field of mining and minerals; with suppliers of equipment for mining, explosives blasting, mineral processing, etc; with finance houses (e.g. as project appraisers for lending institutions such as banks); in civil engineering works; in petroleum and gas exploration & extraction companies; as sales and marketing executives for companies trading in minerals. They also have options pursue postgraduate studies and join the academia. There has always been and there still is a shortage of trained Mining Engineers worldwide.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The department of mining and mineral processing engineering will be training undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as carrying out relevant research. The following will be the main objectives:

To provide manpower for the development of mining industry for both the public and private sector;
To provide manpower for the mineral extraction and processing industry; and
To provide trained manpower for the manufacturing industry in general
to provide relevant manpower for the sectors involved in research in mining and subsequent processing.
The University and Faculty common regulations shall apply.
The following shall be eligible for consideration for admission into the degree programme:

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) applicants should satisfy the requirements below:

A candidate must have a mean aggregate of at least grade B – (minus); and
The mean grade for the total score in the four cluster subjects must be at least B (plain);
and
In the individual cluster subjects, a candidate must have at least the scores given below:
Alternative A Alternative B
Mathematics C+ Mathematics C+
Physics C+ Physical Sciences B
Chemistry C+ Biological Sciences C+
Geography or Biology, or C+ Geography or any C+
any Group IV Subjects Group IV Subjects

Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) or the A-level equivalent should satisfy the requirements below:

At least two principal passes in Mathematics and Physics;
and
At least a total score of nine(9) points at the KACE or equivalent;
and

At least a credit pass in chemistry at the KCE or its equivalent.
Diploma applicants:

A candidate must be a holder of JKUAT diploma in engineering with at least a credit pass in the relevant discipline. Diploma holders will normally be admitted into the second year of study.
A holder of other qualifications recognized by the Senate as equivalent to I, II or III above.