Overview of the major:

Mineral Processing Engineering is the only major in China primarily dedicated to cultivating specialized talents for chemical mining industries, which is recognized as a Double First-Class discipline in Hubei Province and a National First-Class Undergraduate Program. Designated as one of the first key disciplines under the former Ministry of Chemical Industry in 1994, the major was later transferred and recognized as a Key Discipline of Hubei Province in 2001, successfully passing the evaluation and acceptance process. The major was granted provincial accreditation for the master’s degree conferral without periodic review in 2003, and approved as a first-level master’s degree program in Mining Engineering in 2010. In February 2012, it was approved as a pilot program under the Ministry of Education’s “Excellent Engineer Education and Training Plan”. In 2019, the program successfully passed the International Engineering Education Professional Certification, and in 2020, it was approved as a National First-Class Undergraduate Program. The major has established student exchange and training collaborations with leading universities in major mining countries, such as the University of Melbourne in Australia and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. The major is supported by substantial teaching and research resources, including one Hubei Provincial Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center and one Hubei Provincial Demonstration Practice and Training Base. It operates 34 specialized laboratories along with one dedicated practical training area, covering a total area of approximately 2,000 m². The facilities are equipped with over 2,000 instruments and equipment, with a total value exceeding 30 million.

The major has a full-time faculty of 15 members, including 7 professors and 5 associate professors. Among them, 5 serve as doctoral supervisors and 13 as master’s supervisors, with over 90% holding doctoral degrees. Over the past three years, the faculty has undertaken more than 10 national-level research projects, including key initiatives under the National Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology, key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), key projects of the NSFC-Yunnan Joint Fund, and other grants, which received total research funding of 20 million. The academic achievements include the publication of 7 textbooks or academic works, over 80 high-level research papers indexed in SCI or EI, and more than 10 authorized invention patents. Also, the major has received several scientific awards, such as one First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, as well as two Second Prizes and one Third Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from Hubei Province. The major is supported by several national and provincial research platforms, including the National Engineering Research Center for Phosphorus Resources Development and Utilization, the Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Development and Utilization of Medium and Low Grade Phosphorus Ore Resources, the Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Phosphorus Resources, and the Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center for Phosphorus Mining and Mineral Processing. Additionally, it serves as the hosting unit for the Mining Engineering Committee of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China.

Over the past five years, the graduate employment rate (including those admitted to postgraduate programs) has consistently exceeded 96%. Among employed graduates, 80% have joined top-tier Chinese enterprises such as ‌China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited, Hubei Yihua Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., ‌Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd., Yunnan Yuntianhua Co., Ltd., and BGRIMM Technology Group. In addition, 30% of graduates have been admitted to postgraduate programs at Double First-Class universities, including Central South University, China University of Mining and Technology, and University of Science and Technology Beijing. Many students have also been selected for publicly-funded exchange programs at internationally renowned institutions such as the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne in Australia, as well as the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Educational Objectives:

This major is oriented towards the fields of mineral processing, comprehensive utilization of mineral resources, and mining environmental engineering. It aims to cultivate senior applied engineering professionals who possess the solid foundational knowledge in natural sciences and engineering expertise, a well-rounded understanding of humanities and social sciences, and strong competencies in engineering practice, communication, and organizational management. The graduates will be equipped to apply modern theories and technical methods of mineral processing engineering. They will be capable of engaging in specialized work, such as production, design, scientific research, and development in areas of mineral processing, mineral materials, and comprehensive resource utilization. Also, they will be prepared to undertake tasks related to mineral product processing, process design, new technology development, and engineering services.

Core Courses:

Physical Chemistry; Principles of Chemical Engineering; Ore and Mineralogy; Research Methods in Mineral Processing; Mineral Separation and Beneficiation Processes; Powder Technology; Mineral Processing Plant Design; Principles and Applications of Reagents.