These days, the Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University is hosting the International Forum "Mineral Resources as the Foundation of National Sovereignty: Workforce and Innovation Environment." The event is part of the Russian Federation’s BRICS chairmanship calendar, with participation not only from BRICS member states but also from other countries aiming to enhance their development sustainability.
During panel discussions and informal exchanges, participants are exploring the most effective strategies for government regulation in the mineral resources sector and optimal approaches to educational standards that will improve the quality of engineering training. According to representatives from 42 countries gathered in the city on the river Neva, current standards are far from ideal. Moreover, the Bologna Process, specifically the two-tier system of bachelor's and master's degrees, not only fails to foster a robust pool of competent national professionals but actually contributes to the "brain drain," with the most promising young talent migrating to the West.
How can the situation be improved? This question was the focus of Strategic Discussion #1, where speakers from China, India, Russia, several African countries, and former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissel, head of the G.O.R.K.I. Center at St. Petersburg State University, participated. Recently, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2024, Kneissel presented the Russian edition of her book Requiem for Europe, in which she highlighted the final decline of the Old World, whose standards, including in education, the world strangely continues to regard as exemplary.
In his opening remarks for the session, Vladimir Litvinenko, Rector of the St. Petersburg Mining University, emphasized that mineral resources represent natural capital, which is inert on its own. These resources can only be monetized and used for the benefit of society through professional management. However, the vast majority of countries have taken a different approach—conceding their resources to foreign companies under highly disadvantageous and often opaque terms. As a result, the beneficiaries of resource extraction on their territories are not the local population but Western multinational corporations.
«So-called developing countries are being deceived into believing that they don't need national expertise and that they will still receive substantial dividends from resource extraction without it. This view leads to a clear underestimation of the state's role in regulating the industry and results in significant losses to national budgets. But that's not the only downside. For instance, geological data—which is the foundation for any development—leaves the country and becomes the property of corporations that are under no obligation to share it. During resource extraction, various environmental standards and basic safety rules are violated. Local populations are employed only in low-skilled jobs, while the higher positions are held by foreigners. In some cases, this leads to absolutely unacceptable situations, such as the exploitation of children in Congo for cobalt mining», - emphasized Vladimir Litvinenko.
He reminded the audience that the system of concession agreements was also imposed on Russia in the 1990s. This led to an unprecedented decline in the standard of living for Russian citizens and the mass outflow of export revenues abroad, which contributed to the constant depreciation of the ruble and the further impoverishment of the population. Only through the political will of Vladimir Putin, who introduced licensing for resource extraction after his victory in the presidential elections, was this situation reversed and put on a constructive path.
«Today, it is increasingly clear that through control of resources and capital, the West—or as most participants at our forum call it, the Global North—imposes its ideology on the rest of the world, turning us from citizens into consumers. It creates the illusion that using economic mechanisms that are exclusively beneficial to the West will eventually lead to global prosperity, that the poor will inevitably become rich in this paradigm, and that raw material prices should be set not by those who extract it but by those who process it. In reality, the European and American elites are not at all interested in developing the regions where they extract resources; they only care about their own well-being. We've all had numerous opportunities to see this firsthand», - said the rector, setting the tone for the discussion.
He also assured the attendees that the progressive development of any nation can only be ensured through clear resource control by the authorities. For this, it is essential to train specialists—both engineers and managers. Without this, it will be impossible to break free from the vicious cycle, in which governments fail to monetize their natural resources due to a lack of qualified personnel.
«We urgently need to move away from digital thinking, from mindlessly copying the ideas imposed on us, and start thinking logically, drawing analogies. We must teach children this from school, fostering in them a curiosity about the world and a drive for creation, rather than raising consumers who only need messengers on their phones», -summarized Vladimir Litvinenko. He then invited his colleagues to share their views on the problems in the education system and potential solutions.
Omaji Paul Omojo, president of the Consortium of Universities "Sobsoil of Africa", stated that the "Global North has only exploited and deceived the local population during its entire presence in Africa." The policies of Europe, and later the United States, were aimed at "holding back the continent's development by any means while simultaneously enriching themselves.
«Modern African youth cannot tolerate what previous generations accepted because they clearly see that all the previous promises were lies. No one brought them freedom and prosperity. They look to Russia's positive example, a country that didn’t shy away from confrontation with the West, and whose economy, despite everything, has not collapsed under sanctions. This is because they have resources, technologies for extraction and processing, and most importantly—qualified personnel. But of course, it’s harder for us. We don’t have such a rich heritage, and because of the deception by Europeans, we were never focused on developing competencies or training engineers», - explained Omaji Paul Omojo.
One of the primary tasks of the consortium he leads is precisely the modernization of the education system. Therefore, the experience of the Mining University, where a pilot project is currently being implemented to improve the process of workforce development, is invaluable to him, as it is to many others across different continents. Among other interests are joint geological expeditions and the establishment of industries that will enable Africa to increase its export potential—specifically, to supply international markets with finished products rather than raw materials.
«Currently, a new global order is being formed, and we must find our place in this changing world, stop being a target for exploitation, and stand on equal footing with other regions of the planet. We are open to dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas, especially in the area of workforce development», - assured Omaji Paul Omojo to the audience.
Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, Dmitry Afanasyev, reminded the attendees that resources are unevenly distributed across the globe. There are areas where they are practically nonexistent, such as in Europe, and others where immense treasures are hidden beneath the surface. Beneath the feet of Russians, for example, lies almost the entire Periodic Table of Elements.
«Some 250 years ago, it was no coincidence that the Mining University was established in our country. Its creation genuinely allowed for the improvement of the efficiency of resource extraction and processing. After all, for natural resources to benefit society as a whole, human capital is necessary—competent engineers. Only their presence, combined with a productive state policy and a rich resource base, guarantees the sustainability of a nation», - said Dmitry Afanasyev with confidence.
Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissel emphasized that over the past 20 years, BRICS has transformed into a prestigious association, one that many countries now aspire to join. "Initially, it was solely about trade, whether it was oil or orange juice," she remarked, "but now the organization has outgrown its former format.
«It is fascinating to observe this transformation, as it is still not entirely clear what forms it will eventually take. Currently, various options are being discussed. It's unlikely that a definitive answer will emerge in Kazan next week, but the trend is evident», - shared Karin Kneissel.
Among the potential directions for BRICS, which will likely focus on reducing dependency on the West and strengthening the sovereignty of its member states, she mentioned the creation of a new market for insurance and reinsurance. Currently, this sector is dominated by London, Zurich, and New York, meaning that those who fall out of favor with the Global North will immediately face significant challenges in this area. Russia, as it stands today, serves as a prime example of this reality.
«Another area is human talent, which many are discussing right now. I don’t like the term 'human resource,' as I prefer not to refer to people as resources. Individuals possess unique talents that need to be developed to make them as effective as possible. But for this, and here I fully support Vladimir Litvinenko, we need to move away from digitalized thinking and foster analog thinking in children, teenagers, and young adults. In my classroom, for instance, mobile phones are banned. Otherwise, we end up hearing each other much less clearly», - emphasized Ms. Kneissel.
Fang Huang, Director of Office of International Affairs at China University of Petroleum, agreed that "natural resources are the key to the development of any country, its economy, and security." He pointed out that "no country can survive without importing mineral resources." For example, China imports around 70% of its oil, yet at the same time, it exports 90% of its rare earth metals to the global market, supporting countries that need them, primarily the so-called Global North.
«The issue is that the existing system of access to raw materials and the innovations derived from them is not particularly fair. For instance, the countries that produce high-tech goods from our strategic metals do not share them with us, leaving us isolated from these technologies. In other words, the international division of labor, which the West has talked about for so long, is completely ineffective, and we cannot rely on it. One should not think that by extracting raw materials, selling them to Europe, and having them transformed into the products we need, we will then be able to purchase them. As we can see, such an opportunity might not exist. This is why we must focus on cultivating our own engineers. Only then can we create competitive products to replace those we are denied access to», - explained Fang Huang.
Tjekero Tweya, Chairman of Kavango Institute of Engineering, Mining & Agriculture, Republic of Namibia, highlighted that his country possesses enormous raw material potential. Namibia is home to only 3 million people, yet its subsoil holds rich deposits of uranium, lithium, diamonds, copper, iron ore, and other valuable minerals.
«We are the third largest producer of uranium in the world. But what do we gain from this? Nothing. We have no nuclear power plants, and we import 60% of our energy resources. The royalties we receive for gold and lithium are minimal. Essentially, our wealth slips through our fingers while unemployment remains extremely high, particularly among young people—over 40% of them are jobless. Despite Namibia not being a part of BRICS yet, I am glad to participate in this forum as a member of the 'Nedra Africa' consortium. I hope our collaboration will help us understand how to change this situation», - explained Tjekero Tweya, Chairman of the Namibian Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources, regarding his motivation for attending the event in Russia.
Yulia Linskaya, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation for Scientific and Educational Policy, believes that modernizing the education system and adapting it to meet the current needs of industry is key to national sovereignty. The process of improving both secondary and higher education is natural and ongoing. However, during pivotal moments when a country enters a new stage of development, deeper, systemic changes become necessary.
This situation is not unique to Russia. In Namibia, for example, vast oil reserves were recently discovered. Although not a single drop of it has been extracted yet, if the project moves forward, Namibia could rank among the top ten, or even the top five, oil exporters globally. But who will benefit from this business? Will it be the British and Americans, as usual, or the Africans themselves? The answer to this question hinges on the ability of the authorities to train a generation of their own engineers and managers and ensure professional regulation of the industry.
«We see a clear demand for fundamental education and a closer connection between universities and employers through extended internship periods. These solutions have already been implemented at the Mining University as part of a pilot project and will soon be scaled up. It's evident that the two-tier system doesn't suit everyone. For engineers, for instance, a unified education system is necessary to help them adapt more quickly to the workforce. Flexibility and access to skills enhancement after graduation are equally essential. As new technologies emerge, and they evolve rapidly, the ability to acquire new knowledge is crucial», - emphasized Yulia Linskaya.
She also highlighted the critical importance of collaboration in finding optimal approaches to educational standards. Only through the joint efforts of universities, enterprises, and authorities at various levels can the best solutions be found. The fact that the Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University is the founder and active participant in numerous alliances, both within Russia and internationally, offers the promise of achieving maximum results.
