Creation of a new online study course “Use of Abandoned Mines” Erasmus Project

Project Title

Creation of a new online study course “Use of Abandoned Mines”

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Open and distance learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

There is a growing need to introduce distance learning and along with it the implementation of IT technologies in teaching.
The current COVID-19 pandemic places high demands on the rapid introduction and improvement of distance learning.
To face this challenge the project brings new innovative course in the field of technical education all in e-learning form, including support to teachers to develop digital competencies to adapt to distance learning.
Having terminated either underground or surface mining, the post-mining regions are being reclaimed and redeveloped. When former mines are being closed and redeveloped,
reclamation and redevelopment measures are planned for regions affected by mining, while it is advantageous to consider the use of abandoned mines or old mine workings in a way that is beneficial not only for the given community. There are many options how abandoned mines can be exploited, for example for the purposes of energy recovery (exploitation of mine water geothermal potential, pumped-storage power plants, etc.), as sources of drinking or service water, research purposes, tourism, etc.
Nowadays, coal mining is facing a prominent phase-out and it is necessary to deal with the questions related to this issue. The forms of the phase-outs and the use of abandoned mines within the EU differs widely. In Germany and Spain, the coal regions have been transformed fully, where the use of abandoned mines and brownfields has been on a high level.
The situation in the Czech Republic and Poland is the opposite.
Black coal mining in the Czech Republic is planned to be terminated within the next 3 years. Therefore, primarily the Czech Republic faces the question how to use the would-be
abandoned mines and brownfields in the future. In connection with the gradual underground mining phase-out, it is also important to update the study curricula for mining programmes in order to prepare experts in mining as well as experts able to maximize the potential of abandoned mines. Taking into consideration the specificities of different regions, it is important to search for new ways how to exploit the potential of old and newly terminated mine workings.
The core of the project is to liaise EU experts from regions with rich experience and experts from countries that are beginning to face the challenge. The major output of the project is the creation of a new e-learning course “Use of Abandoned Mines”.
Thanks to the project, we will initiate the formation of a unique community of experts and exchange of experience and knowledge not only among scholars within the EU countries (Germany (2), Spain (1), Czech Republic (1) and Poland (1)). Most importantly, thanks to the creation of a new university course, the knowledge and experience will be shared with mining and engineering students.
Within the project, the syllabus and contents of the new course will be discussed among the project partners, and we plan to run a pilot course for the involved institutions’ students (in the form of a summer school). Next, based on the participants’ feedback and evaluation of the course, the course will be perfected and incorporated into the curriculum. At the end of the project, we plan to organize a final conference “The potential of abandoned mine workings in the EU”.
The main results will be:
– Kit of educational materials to the course – to be used separately or as a complex course, including tools (best practices examples, case studies, worksheets and templates) for
modern teaching
– E-learning Moodle course – incl. presentations, case studies, manuals, examples, templates, links to other resources and literature, pictures from workshops, links to
communities, etc. intended for distant learning with the use of digital technologies and also support to full-time studies
The project objectives, tasks and progress will be consulted with the mining experts and local and regional authorities in partner countries.
The main target group of the project will be university students of technical studies and also academic workers, respectively professional public. After the end of the project, the new study course will be implemented into the study plans of the master’s study at VSB (national audience).
The new study course will also be offered in the partner institutions (Spain, Germany, Poland) as well as to visiting students to the universities, eg. within the ERASMUS project (EUlevel).
All materials will be available to download at the project website and partners ́ universities websites.
Open access for the public to a digital form of this material will be ensured.
After the end of the EU funding the educational materials and approaches will be included into curricula at the involved universities.
All materials will remain available for free download and use.
The cooperation among the partners is foreseen to continue in form of other study visits, joint events (workshops, seminars), projects and other R&D activities.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 212010 Eur

Project Coordinator

VYSOKA SKOLA BANSKA – TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA OSTRAVA & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• DMT – Gesellschaft für Lehre und Bildung mbH – Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
• UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO
• POLITECHNIKA SLASKA
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BERGAKADEMIE FREIBERG