With enthusiasm, 72 students from five technical high schools in the O'Higgins region began their 2025 work experience at Codelco División El Teniente, the largest underground mine in the world. During the process, which will last three months, the students will be able to visit the Concentrator Plant, the Interior of the Mine, Sewell, Hacienda Cauquenes and the facilities of the Patio Rancagua, with the aim of generating learning on the ground and in the classroom.

In their first contact with the world of work, which represents a key step in their technical-professional training, young people from the Francisco Antonio Encina Armanet high schools in Las Cabras; Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue, Pedro Aguirre Cerda and Bernardo O'Higgins Mining Technological Institute in Rancagua; and the Machalí Multipurpose High School participate.

The students, who are studying Mining, were welcomed with a kit of essential materials for their performance, delivered by executives from El Teniente, such as the Division's Sustainability and External Affairs Manager, Carolina Merino; the Director of Community Development, Cristián Sanhueza; and the Director of Integration, Ignacio Salinas. Also present were the Regional Secretary of Energy and Deputy Secretary of Mining, Claudio Martínez Molina, and the Regional Secretary of Education, Alyson Hadad.

Ignacio Salinas highlighted the benefits of this collaboration. "It is a mutual benefit. We provide them with knowledge and skills, promoting their development and employability, while strengthening our ties with key communities such as Machalí, Rancagua and Las Cabras," he said.

The importance of professional practice

According to regional minister Alyson Hadad, these internships are essential for the comprehensive development of students. “They not only acquire specific knowledge of the career, but also soft skills such as teamwork and problem solving, which are key to their future,” she said.

For Carlos Fuentes González, technical coordinator of the Bernardo O'Higgins Mining Institute, "this process is very important in the training of students because young people will be able to experience on the ground what we teach them in theory. This is key to visualizing what is done in the mining industry."

The students' perspective

Javier Donoso, a student at the Francisco Antonio Encina High School in Las Cabras, said that his main expectation is “to grow academically and professionally; this internship will open doors in my training and will allow me to strengthen my path in mining."

For her part, Antonia Vargas, from the Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue High School, mentioned that “this experience is crucial for my career. It will have a great influence because of the recognition that Codelco has. I want to learn as much as possible and apply that knowledge.” Alondra Donoso, from the same school, valued the opportunity. “I know that this experience will be excellent for my future. I want to make the most of it to open up more job opportunities,” she said.

Commitment to the future of mining
Claudio Martínez, acting regional minister for Energy and Mining, said that “this initiative is an example of Codelco's commitment to technical-professional education. It is essential that students have access to real experiences in mining, especially in an operation as innovative as El Teniente. This can mark the beginning of their technical careers and beyond.”

The collaboration between Codelco and technical schools is an example of the importance for the Corporation to strengthen technical-professional education in the O'Higgins region. To this end, the internships are not only focused on preparing students, but also on empowering the mining industry by attracting new talent and promoting innovation.