The conference “Responsibility of Global Leaders in Mineral Reserves and Extraction for the Sustainable Development of the Global Economy” brought together representatives of regulatory authorities from the Russian Federation and several African countries, companies in the mineral resource sector, as well as specialized educational and public organizations. The discussions focused on the growing importance of the efficient development of natural capital as a key factor in global well-being in the 21st century.
Rector of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Vladimir Litvinenko, delivered the welcoming address to the participants of the meeting. He drew attention to a civilizational issue: engineers of the past built a complex technogenic world for current generations, yet the loss of continuity in technical education now hinders not only development but even the maintenance of this high-tech infrastructure on a global scale.
For countries of the Global South, a weak human resource base also means the inability to derive sufficient societal benefit from their vast mineral reserves. According to the Rector, his numerous meetings with foreign colleagues—at the level of ministers and deputy prime ministers responsible for the mineral resource sector—indicate a shared understanding of the urgent need to significantly improve the quality of engineering education.
«At our conference, we have representatives from countries endowed with vast natural resources. On a per capita basis, Africa’s resource potential exceeds that of Europe by 17–20 times and that of the United States by 12 times. Some African nations are, in this regard, even richer than Russia. The problem lies in the professional management of natural capital—without it, such wealth remains inaccessible.
The countries of the North, which are the primary consumers of these resources, have effectively established a postcolonial system for resource-supplying nations. One need only look at the common practice of granting unfavorable concessions for mineral extraction to European and American companies. For Africa, this is often a forced measure, as many states lack the financial means to invest in the development of their own deposits. Equally important as a barrier to sovereign development is the critical shortage of qualified professionals in the field of subsoil use.
Russia experienced its own period of critical dependence on the West in the 1990s, when exploitative production-sharing agreements with foreign extractive companies deprived the state budget of enormous revenues. The situation changed fundamentally in the early 21st century. Today, the integrated use of natural resources contributes 40–60% of the country’s gross domestic product. Had the outdated mechanisms of subsoil use remained in place, this figure would not exceed 10%.
The Mining University is successfully addressing the issue of workforce development within the framework of a presidential pilot project for improving higher education. Launched in 2023, the initiative is already yielding results—dozens of companies have expressed interest in giving hiring priority to engineers trained under the new educational model» – said Vladimir Litvinenko.
The Rector outlined to the conference participants the key distinguishing features of this educational model. It is fundamentally different from the bachelor’s degree, which, according to UNESCO, provides only a general understanding of a field without practical skills, and from the master’s degree—an advanced academic program that is often disconnected from real-world industrial practice. At the Mining University, over the course of a single 5.5 to 6-year educational cycle, students are trained to become "engineers with intuition," capable of solving the most complex challenges of modern industry. Comprehensive theoretical training is complemented by 14 months of hands-on practical experience, ranging from introductory internships for first-year students to full-fledged engineering internships during the final year of study.
The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone, Julius Daniel Mattai, offered what may be considered a shared view among African colleagues: high praise for the traditions of the Russian engineering school, whose representatives provided substantial support to the continent in the latter half of the 20th century in promoting non-discriminatory use of natural resources—especially in the field of geology. According to African representatives, continuing this cooperation in the context of the 21st century holds significant promise.
Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University has been actively working in this direction for several years. As a follow-up to the agreements reached during the second Russia–Africa Summit, the university established the “Nedra Afriki” (Subsoil of Africa) technical university consortium in December 2023.
In September of this year, the university will launch a full-time, one-year international professional retraining program for executives in the mineral resource sector of African countries. Participants will gain advanced knowledge in the effective management of subsoil use facilities, develop competencies in sustainable development that take into account ecological, social, and economic factors, and enhance their qualifications with respect to regulatory frameworks, particularly international industry standards.
Africa’s cooperation with Russia not only fully aligns with the goals of UNESCO but is also being developed with the direct support of this respected international organization. It is worth recalling that in March 2018, the International Competence Centre for Mining-Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO was established at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.
By adopting the new Russian model of engineering education, African universities will be able to elevate their academic programs to a leading global level. The Mining University’s leadership in this regard is confirmed by global rankings—QS, for example, places it 4th in the world in its subject-specific ranking.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Tetenkin, addressing the conference participants, emphasized the importance of geological exploration and mineral extraction in the context of current geopolitical developments. According to him, it is precisely in this sector that the foundation for successful economic development is laid.
Dmitry Tetenkin inaugurated two panel sessions of the conference: “How to Maintain Resource Leadership in Today’s Changing World?” and “Multi-Level Geological Exploration: From Federal Programs to Market-Based Solutions.” The first session was moderated by Oleg Kazanov, Head of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use, while the second was led by Dilyara Solntseva-Elbe, Head of the Economic News Desk at RIA Novosti.
Top executives from companies such as UC RUSAL, ALROSA, JSC Rosgeo, Nordgold Group, Heartland Management, Polymetal Management Company JSC, and Pavlik Gold Ore Company took part in the discussion.
The outcomes of the conference will be summarized during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.