ECRMs

Course Description

Initiated by the AGEMERA project, the course starts on March 04, 2024 and is open to students from TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Oulu, University of Lapland and University of Zambia.

The course is designed to complement the Master's and Dipl.-Ing. university programmes of prospective scientists and engineers interested in a career in the raw materials sector, who wish to learn about the importance of critical raw materials (CRMs) in our everyday life, in particular rare earth elements (REEs) and battery raw materials (BRMs), and the challenges associated with the digital and green transition.

Information is divided into seven chapters covering different topics of the raw materials industry along the whole value chain. The lecture incorporates geological and engineering information while addressing geopolitical, economic and marketing as well as social and environmental aspects. Additionally, it provides information on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and international sustainable resource classification frameworks, including the UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the UN Resource Management System (UNRMS).

A dedicated section within the course (chapter 8) offers bonus content for students who want more in-depth information on the presented materials and related topics.

Upon successful completion of Opal's automated online performance assessments and giving feedback to course coordinators through an online questionnaire, participants will receive a certificate of attendance. This certificate is a pre-requisite for taking a written (online) examination. For the written examination, representatives from each partner university pose questions related to the seven chapters.

Upon successful completion of the written examination and enrolling to the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, participants will be eligible to receive 3 credits through the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Schedule