UL launches Department of Geology and Mining

The newly launched Department of Geology and Mining at the University of Limpopo (UL) is certain to make a substantial contribution to the economy while addressing the lack of Geological Sciences in the tertiary education syllabus.
Speaking at the celebratory launch of the department on Wednesday, John Dunlevey, professor in Geology at UL, described it as only the first phase of its development and that they were moving on to greater things.
The new Department is an upgrade from that small Geology Department the existed at the former University of the North that was closed in 1995 during the phase of national academic rationalisation that resulted in the closure and or amalgamation of small departments at several universities.
Dunlevey said during the restructuring of South African universities by the Department of Higher Education in 2005, when the University of Limpopo was created, it was realised that there was a regional need for tertiary geology education in the mineral-rich province.
He said the department will offer a BSc Geology degree and three Geology Honours streams plus an MSc and PhD in Geology from next year.
“Academic links are currently being developed with Akita University in Japan and the University of Durham in the United Kingdom to expand both research and teaching,” he indicated.
“The Department of Geology and Mining will offer undergraduate and honours courses as well as coordinate the Geology MSc and PhD programmes from January next year. “We are proud to be the first institution to offer these courses. We have already received over 500 online applications and we are excited,” Dunlevey said.

Story & photo: Herbert Rachuene
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