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WMI

A Dynamic Learning and Development Hub

The Wits Mining Institute (WMI) advances more than a century of mining research excellence at Wits, driving the sustainable provision of minerals to support future wellbeing. The Institute actively shapes a responsible, innovative, and future-focused mining sector.

Through leading research, strategic partnerships, industry collaboration, and high-impact engagements, WMI strengthens 21st-century business models grounded in multidisciplinary insight. The Institute addresses complex and interconnected challenges such as mineworker wellbeing, the integration of technology and human performance, the practical implementation of responsible mining, and the real-time communication of critical operational data.

Across five specialised centres, WMI investigates these challenges from diverse perspectives while building human and technological capacity for the sector. A dedicated community of researchers, professional staff, students, associates, and industry thought leaders work together within a collaborative living laboratory, accelerating innovation, knowledge exchange, and skills development.

As a dynamic learning and development hub, the Wits Mining Institute brings together expertise from across disciplines to generate actionable insights and innovative solutions for stakeholders across the mineral value chain. Through research excellence and meaningful collaboration, WMI continues to define and enable the future of mining.

Where we come from

Building on over 100 years of the Wits School of Mining foundations, the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI) was launched in 2005. The WMI offers an established programme of research facilitated by research leads that supervise MSc and PhD students, supported by a network of associates. Now with edge-leading technology research and experientially-sensitive approaches to stakeholder engagement, the WMI stands cognisant in our present, reimaging new futures.

 

Where we are

Carrying the mantle of over 100 years of mining research at Wits, the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) holds at its core the sustainable provision of minerals to support future wellbeing. Research, partnerships, events, and other activities are focused on contributing to the emergence of a 21st century innovative business model, through in-depth understanding of large multi-disciplinary and complex questions in the sector.  Some of the complexities with which we are working are the well-being of mineworkers, the interaction between technology and humans, what responsible mining means in practice, and real-time reporting of critical information.

Our five centres investigate these questions, challenges and opportunities through different lenses, while developing the human and technological capacity to address them. A core team of dedicated research and administrative staff, students, associates and other thought-leaders across five centres are building a collaborative living laboratory for the development of people and technology. 

The Wits Mining Institute is a unique learning  and development hub that investigates foundational insights for all mineral sector stakeholders. Gathering skills from a range of disciplines, the WMI facilitates the unearthing of innovative solutions for all involved in the sectors’ future.

"We aim to enhance our culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology  commercialisation, and the policies that guide these activities, while creating strategic research white papers that inform government policy".
Where we’re going

We are a living laboratory for the development of people and technology in the minerals sector, inviting collaboration from all who are interested in the sector's successful future for southern Africa. Partnering, joint research, all stakeholders’ participation, and having real conversations with us is our standing invitation.

Vision
  • To provide innovation in the extractive sectors through skills, modernisation and sustainable development of resource-rich Africa. 
  • Apply proactive research to develop human, technical, environmental and industrial capabilities for sustainable 21st Century mining.
Our approach

We conduct research in a manner that specifically bridges the gap between modern scientific and engineering developments while also leveraging knowledge from traditional and social sciences, business, arts, and engineering.

Outcomes

Through implementation of this inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary strategy, the WMI intends measurable outcomes for the benefit of all the sector’s stakeholders. These outcomes include post-graduates with modernised skills that are advantageous for future work; enhanced technologies to fit emerging mining models; cost-effective research and development; and reduced time to usable technologies compared with discipline-based approaches.

WMI Research Strategy

A 10-point strategy guides us to deliver meaningful multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research for modernising mining.

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