Saturday, April 19, 2008 Dela Peña: Mining course reopens By Engr. Bonifacio dela Peña Light That Transforms
STARTING as a one-room class for first year Basic Engineering course atop the Silver Shop of the Saint Louis Center elementary building way back in 1953, and known then as the Engineering Department of Saint Louis College (SLC), the Saint Louis University (SLU) College of Engineering and Architecture has steadily grown to one of the most sought after and most populated colleges in SLU.
Because of the boom in the enrolment in the College of Engineering and therefore the need for more classrooms, it had to withstand the travail of the string of transfer of locations before finally getting settled at the Bonifacio main campus. From the SLC elementary building, it transferred to Antipolo building along Session road, to Boys' High School building along General Luna road (now Gonzaga building), to Diego Silang building, then finally to the towering seven-story Otto Hahn building inaugurated in 1970.
Mining Engineering was one of the courses initially offered starting in 1976 but due to some reasons, the course was abolished sometime later. With the current dearth of highly qualified professional mining engineers either for employment or for various projects locally and abroad, SLU has decided to provide this opportunity to the youth who aspire to become mining engineers by reopening the course effective schoolyear 2008-2009 leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering (BSEM).
Mining Engineering is a profession that deals with the application of mathematics, natural and applied sciences, humanities and social sciences in mineral deposit assessment; mine feasibility study; mine design, development and construction; management of mining operations and progressive rehabilitation and associated activities and processes; environmental management closure; mine decommissioning to harness mineral resources safely and economically for social benefits of the country.
For those who will grab the opportunity and successfully finish the course, a good number of attractive career opportunities await them. They may land as engineers of mine and mineral resource development operation and management projects; staff in government services on mining; mine and environmental consultancy services; professors in universities; staff of mine environmental and enhancement services; or, researchers in mine research and development projects.
With the new addition of BS Mining Engineering, the SLU College of Engineering and Architecture now boasts of 10 undergraduate courses and eight graduate programs.
In recent months, the College has performed exemplary in the licensure board examinations for architects, chemical engineers, civil engineers, geodetic engineers, electronics and communications engineers, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers.
All these developments bolster further the realization of the College's vision which reads: "The College of Engineering and Architecture is envisioned to be an exemplary technological and architectural college dedicated to elevating instruction and research to a higher plateau of competence, creativity, and professionalism, and committed in shaping the socio-technical environment based on Christian values."
Please feel free to visit or call the Dean's Office, College of Engineering and Architecture, Otto Hahn building, telephone numbers (074)444-8246 to 48, (074) 443-2001, 442-304, local 242 and 314; fax numbers (074) 442-4288 ; (074) 442-2842. Engineer Bonifacio I. dela Peña, MSCE, is the College Dean and Engineer Cynthia Posadas is the Graduate Program Coordinator. Log on to www.slu.edu.ph.
