A new scholarship initiative will help advance professional development in South America through the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering’s Mining Industry Management Program
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has approved a Minerals Skills Network Grant to the the University of Toronto’s Mining Industry Management Program, within the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering (CivMin), to offer scholarships and training to mining professionals in four South American countries.
The $984,400 grant — offered through NRCan’s Global Partnerships Initiative and as part of the Mineral Skills Network established during Canada’s 2025 G7 Presidency — will be used to develop and support an online training program on financial and economic planning for sustainable critical mineral projects.
The two-year initiative aims to equip participants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru — key international mining partners for Canada — with skills and knowledge in mining finance. Training will also emphasize Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, helping participants understand compliance requirements and best practices for responsible mining.
“This initiative gives professionals access to the practical financial and economic tools they need to evaluate and advance responsible mining projects,” says Professor Kamran Esmaeili (CivMin).
“With the online nature of the program, we’re able to connect with learners around the world, and this new funding will allow us to extend our expertise more broadly to strengthen talent in the critical minerals sector.”
Esmaeili is director of the Mining Industry Management Program in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering at U of T. Launched in 2023, the program has four online courses and another in development, and includes topics that cover all aspects of mining from exploration and studies to practical mine operations. Each course can be completed independently within a set period and offers multiple modules on a topic.
Canada has 40% of the world’s public mining companies listed on the TSX and TSXV., with roughly $10 billion in mining equity capital raised in 2024 alone. Canadian mining companies operate in more than 100 countries and play a major role in mineral exploration and critical minerals development.
This project aims to develop a skilled mining workforce, promote sustainable mineral value chains and support long-term regional growth in South America by offering specialized training and targeted outreach to professionals in the public and private sectors of partner countries.
“Canada is a trusted global leader in mining and is committed to shaping a sustainable and reliable ecosystem through strong partnerships,” says the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
“By investing in this initiative, delivered through a world-class mining program at U of T, we’re strengthening the mining industry among partner nations, which will spur more reliable, secure access to sustainable critical minerals for Canada and allies for decades to come.”
The specialized training in mining finance is designed to enable transparent, data-driven investment decisions that attract capital and support long-term sustainability. A focus on critical minerals education aims to strengthen global supply chains and reinforce Canada’s leadership in the green energy transition.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with NRCan in rolling out this program that not only builds global mining capacity, but also positions Canada as a leader in sustainable mining innovation,” says Professor Marianne Hatzopoulou (CivMin), Chair of the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering at U of T.
“As countries around the world work towards higher environmental standards, initiatives like this highlight the important role that institutions like U of T have in enabling the global transition to a more sustainable future.”