London-listed diamond junior Botswana Diamonds (LON:BOD) forecasts a cheerful future for the diamond market, despite it sliding into the red in the six months to the end of December with a pre-tax loss of over US$327,000.

Experts have estimated that Australia's Northern territory will need an extra 6000 workers over five years to meet mining and gas demand. The Northern Territory Government and Minerals Council are working together the encourage local Territorians to take those positions, reports NT News.

Industry and the Government will work together to show students "clear pathways" to careers in mining. The program will include industry training, work experience, mentoring and school-based apprentices.

The Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines (ZCM) President, Winston Chitando, says that Zimbabwe needs more women enrolling in mine training to balance the currently male-dominated industry, reports The Zimbabwean.

The Zimbabwe School of Mines says it is also making efforts to mainstream women in mining through trained-based affirmative action. "In particular, the institute has opened traditionally male-dominated technical careers such as mining engineering, geology and mineral processing to women with the aim to increase their participation in the mining sector," a senior official said.

MiningNews.net reports: Resourceful Events is presenting a Mining 101 workshop in Perth on June 18th.

The Mining 101 workshop is an excellent introduction for companies looking to provide their services to the Mining Sector or for those embarking on careers within the mining sector - graduates, new recruits and associated sectors - the financial community, lawyers, PR companies, equipment manufacturers and service providers who would benefit from an overview of mining, and be in a better position as a result to develop more business opportunities.

The North Superior Workforce Planning Board and the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Corporation is hosting a one-day forum on training and employment in the mining sector on February 15, 2012, reports NetNewsLedger.

Along with a detailed presentation on this report, the forum will consist of keynote presentations on three thriving areas of mining in our region: exploration, production, and supply and services businesses. In addition, workshops will be held on topics such as: trades in mining, women in mining, transferable skills, environmental careers in mining, First Nations in mining, careers in prospecting, and many others.

Mining engineering graduates are as in demand as medical grads in Australia, according to Graduates Careers Australia’s annual employment data, reports Australian […]

Today's 4Girls2 Professional Pathways showcase in Northwest Australia's Overlander Hotel will give local young women the opportunity to speak to female Xstrata Mount Isa Mines employees about careers for women in mining, The North West Star reports.

The event, hosted by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), Office for Women and Xstrata Mount Isa Mines, will introduce local girls to career options in the resources sector. Focusing primarily on geology, environmental and engineering careers, the event will include interactive sessions where students will solve practical problems with the help of Xstrata mentors.

The Observer: Tash Fee, head of the two-year-old mine training company, TNT Training Solutions, has won the Individual Award for Excellence in Training at the Mining Industry Skills Centre Training Awards, and has been recognized for her role in encouraging women into mining careers.

TNT Training Solutions provides training in everything from working at heights and confined spaces to fire training and a range of other skills. Originally a motor mechanic, Ms Fee started working as a fitter in the mines.

The Montreal Gazette reports that there are still a stubbornly low number of women pursuing engineering as a course of study in university, and the question remains - why? The gender disparity has continued, they wrote, "despite the fact that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of new jobs in engineering and technology." Elizabeth Croft, a UBC mechanical engineering professor and, since 2010, regional chair for Women in Science and Engineering with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), agreed that engaging women in applied sciences is a serious concern. "I don't think we've done a particularly good job of communicating that the careers for engineers do not require you to be a man," she said in a recent interview.