Teachers from technical high schools in the O'Higgins Region visited the facilities of Codelco División El Teniente with the aim of strengthening the link between education and the demands of the mining industry. The visit focused on identifying training gaps, technological advances and the main challenges of the sector.

During the day, a dozen teachers visited the La Junta sector, where they learned about the maintenance processes of major equipment and the techniques applied to the maintenance of mining equipment. They then moved to the underground mine, to the Sub 6 sector, where they spoke with operators and learned about the processes carried out in that area.

Germán Lagos, Superintendent of Mine Planning and Maintenance, said that the activity “allowed us to connect with the professional and technical needs required by the industry. We learned in detail what gaps and opportunities we have from the training of people, until they enter the labor market. They were very interested, they want to hear our needs and see the opportunities for their students.”

The tour is part of the initiative "Open Doors: an experience for teachers and companies", organized in collaboration with CAUCE, INACAP and the Network of Companies for Technical Professional Education (Red TP) and which seeks to promote the exchange between the educational and business worlds, which gives teachers of technical professional secondary education (EMTP) the opportunity to learn about various companies.

Positive experience

Ricardo Muñoz, Mining Coordinator at the President Pedro Aguirre Industrial High School, said that “it has been a useful experience, which provides information and knowledge to our mining students. During the tour, we observed and heard about the work carried out in mining, which gave us valuable information and tools.”

Meanwhile, Carlos Fuentes, Technical Professional Coordinator of the Bernardo O'Higgins Mining and Technological Institute, said that “the experience was very good. The transmission of what we experienced today to our students will be powerful because it allows us to experience what technology has achieved in mining. This was very enriching.”

For his part, Leonardo Arancibia Mendoza, representative of the Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue High School, added that “it is important to add knowledge with new technologies, the most impressive thing was learning about innovation and the automation of the processes involved. This allows us to add new technologies, transmit to young people and teach information to young people. With this we have more tools and a larger universe of opportunities for students.”

These actions are part of Codelco's community development strategy, which seeks to improve opportunities for the development of education and human capital. Among the highlighted efforts are the link with educational institutions, the professional internship program and the corporate technical support program "Juntos Aprendemos de Local".