UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

"This unit comprises three modules: (1) mining governance; (2) mining economics; and (3) management leadership.

Governance Module (15%): This module covers the Mining Act and Mines Safety and Health Act; duties of care; roles and responsibilities; environmental and native title issues; and occupational health and safety.

Economics Module (70%): This module covers the theory of exhaustible resources; project appraisal; government policies; royalties; export controls; and economics impact analyses.

Leadership Module (15%): This module covers fundamental theory and skills of mining management leadership and how they are applied to the mining sector in the context of mining governance and economics. "

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply the Mining Act and Mines Safety and Health Act to the mineral industry and particularly in surface and underground mining operations.; (2) explain the basic Pareto model of efficient resource allocation and the way that this underpins economic thinking in analysing natural resource and environmental problems.; (3) discuss market failure and externalities approaches to environmental management and the way environmental management underpins tax and standards approaches to policy.; (4) evaluate the role that markets can play in allocating environmental resources and why policies such as transferable entitlements are now favoured in many areas.; (5) assess irreversibility in resource use and its implications for making decisions about the preservation versus exploitation of resources.; (6) apply the basic economic principles underpinning the analysis of the optimal extraction of non-renewable resources.; (7) critique the role that cost benefit analysis and the valuation of environmental benefits and costs plays in policy decisions.; (8) evaluate the natural resource management problem and match the appropriate theory to the problem in the design of appropriate policy solutions; (9) understand the fundamental theory and skills of mining management leadership; and (10) develop and apply leadership skills for the compliance of mining governance and the effective management of mining economics.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) individual assignment portfolio; (2) in-class quizzes; and (3) a final examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Professor Jishan Liu

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

62550 Master of Professional Engineering (Mining Engineering specialisation)

and Successful completion of

( MINE4401 Underground Mining 1
and MINE4503 Surface Mining

)
or
Enrolment in

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree and a WAM of at least 50

and Successful completion of

( MINE3401 Underground Mining 1
and MINE3503 Surface Mining

)

Contact hours

Lectures: 3 hours per week
Practicals: 3 hours per week