Mendoza Prepares Mining Engineering Degree Program for 2027

The National Technological University (UTN) plans to launch the Mining Engineering degree program in Mendoza in 2027, as the province's metalliferous activity reactivates. The program will run for five years and aims to address the shortage of locally trained professionals.

The academic calendar will advance in parallel with projects such as PSJ Cobre Mendocino, which is expected to move toward construction and production phases, while other exploration initiatives continue development. After two decades of low mining activity, the province also faces the challenge of rebuilding its specialized workforce.

Currently, only five national universities offer Mining Engineering degrees, with programs in San Juan, San Luis, La Rioja, Catamarca, and Jujuy. If the planned process is completed, Mendoza will join that roster starting in 2027, though the first graduates would arrive after completing the full academic cycle.

The curriculum will feature a technical profile oriented toward field work and will cover different phases of projects, from planning and prospecting through production. It will also include content on water and energy management, circular economy, digitalization, Mining 4.0, mine closure, and environmental remediation.

As an alternative to shorten time to employment, the program will offer an intermediate qualification as Mining Operations Technician. The UTN has faculty available for most courses and plans to recruit industry professionals to teach specialized subjects.

Initial funding to deliver the program at the Mendoza and Santa Cruz regional campuses has been incorporated into the program contract. To equip laboratories in a later phase, the university plans to seek state support and contributions from mining companies.

With information from Panorama Minero.