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A new program to deliver education, training and capacity-building for Indonesia's mining, oil, gas and technology sectors was signed today in a Memorandum of Understanding at The University of Western Australia.

The signatories were delegates from Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Training Agency and representatives from the International Mining For Development Centre (IM4DC) - a partnership between UWA and the University of Queensland.

IM4DC Director Ian Satchwell said the Indonesian Ministry had independently identified UWA as its preferred partner for capacity-building in oil and gas administration.

Today's visit included discussions with key UWA staff about building capacity to provide services in extractives administration.

Indonesian delegates also visited the Accelerated Learning Laboratories in UWA's School of Psychology, and the University's Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics.

Mr Satchwell said the Indonesian Training Agency first approached the Centre last December to build Ministry capacity through cooperation and assistance.

He said IM4DC was already delivering a project through UQ to cooperatively develop new competency standards and training for about 1000 Indonesian inspectors to administer new mining laws in that country.

"In addition to short courses and other capacity-building, the MoU provides for the Centre to provide advice and assistance to Ministry staff for scholarships, advanced studies and to attend relevant courses at partner universities and other institutions," Mr Satchwell said.

"The MoU will also broaden and deepen existing collaborations in mining and energy research and education between the two leading universities in that sector - UWA and UQ."

The IM4DC partnership was formed last year between UWA's Energy and Minerals Institute, UQ and AusAID to support governance, sustainability and expertise in developing nations.

IM4DC's program includes scholarships for students from developing nations to study advanced mine sciences at research-intensive universities in Australia's two main resource-rich states.

Media references

Ian Satchwell (Director, IM4DC)  (+61 8)  9263 9815  /  (+61 4) 04 822 492
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783