Barrick Mining Corp, UDSM train Tanzania’s next generation of exploration experts
The programme brings Barrick geologists and exploration experts back into the classroom to mentor students and share field experience drawn from mining operations around the world.
WEDNESDAY March 11, 2026
By the Tranquility News staff writer, Tanzania
As the global mining industry rapidly shifts toward data-driven exploration and advanced geological technologies, a new partnership in Tanzania is preparing the country’s future workforce for that transformation.
Barrick Mining Corporation has launched a specialised capacity-building programme at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), designed to equip final-year geology students with the practical skills needed to thrive in modern mining operations.
The initiative reflects a growing push across the global extractive sector to bridge the gap between academic training and the technological realities of contemporary mineral exploration.
“This programme connects students directly with professionals who live the mining industry every day,” said Prof Elisante Mshiu, Dean of the university’s School of Mining and Geosciences. “They learn how to conduct precise research to determine mineral quantities, interpret geological maps and apply rigorous scientific methods in field exploration.”
Hosted at UDSM’s main campus — widely known locally as “The Hill” — the training brings Barrick geologists and exploration experts back into the classroom to mentor students and share field experience drawn from mining operations around the world.
Dr Emmanuel Kazimoto, Head of the School of Mining and Geosciences, said the sessions expose students to specialised disciplines such as geothermal studies, petrology and advanced underground exploration technologies.
“These are deep, practical sessions that go beyond traditional academic teaching,” said Kazimoto. “When students see graduates from this university securing jobs with global mining companies like Barrick, it becomes a powerful motivation.”
The collaboration comes as the mining sector undergoes significant technological change. Modern exploration now relies heavily on digital mapping, predictive modeling, and large-scale data analysis to locate mineral deposits with greater accuracy.
Dr Yann Waku Mpaka, a Barrick geologist involved in the programme, said the industry had moved far beyond conventional prospecting methods.
“Mining research and exploration techniques are evolving rapidly,” he said. “Today we rely on integrated data systems and predictive models to reduce uncertainty and improve discovery success. Our goal is to ensure students are ready to apply these tools as soon as they enter the field.”
Beyond technical expertise, the programme also highlights the importance of ethics, safety and community engagement — issues that have become increasingly central to global mining operations.
Ibrahim Weston Kamage, a junior exploration geologist at Barrick and graduate of the UDSM’s geology programme in 2023, returned to the university to share his experience with incumbent students.
“Being a great geologist isn’t just about knowing rocks,” he told them students. “It’s also about knowing people.”
Mining projects often operate near rural communities, where effective communication and trust-building are essential to preventing conflicts.
“Professionals must learn to communicate with everyone — from technicians at the site to villagers living near mining areas,” said Kamage. “Strong community relationships are critical to ensuring mining can coexist with local communities.”
These are deep, practical sessions that go beyond traditional academic teaching,” Dr Emmanuel Kazimoto, Head of the School of Mining and Geosciences.
Students participating in the programme say the hands-on training is already sharpening their technical capabilities.
Fourth-year student Paul Maghembe said working with modern geological maps and digital data collection tools has significantly improved his analytical skills.
Another student, Sarah Nestory Musembele, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Geology, said the programme represented an important step toward her career ambitions.
“I want to become highly competent while upholding the highest professional ethics,” she said. “My goal is to contribute to positive change in Tanzania’s mining sector.”
The initiative also reflects Tanzania’s broader economic strategy. The country is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, and mining remains a major driver of export revenue and foreign investment.
Industry analysts say partnerships between universities and multinational mining companies could play an important role in ensuring the country remains competitive in an increasingly sophisticated global resource market.
According to the 2026 Global AI and Technology Report, predictive science and digital data integration are becoming essential components of mineral exploration.
By introducing students to these tools during their university training, the Barrick–UDSM partnership aims to ensure that Tanzania’s next generation of geologists is prepared for the rapidly evolving industry.
As Kazimoto puts it, the collaboration represents more than a training programme.
“Expanding these partnerships is about more than extracting minerals,” he said. “It is about strengthening knowledge, building national capacity, and securing the country’s future in the global mining economy.”
Barrick has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to responsible mining and the development of national skills by offering full international scholarships to five Tanzanians to pursue bachelor’s degree programmes in South Africa,” Barrick Country Manager Melkiory Ngido.
Expanding opportunities beyond the classroom
The programme comes only a few months after Barrick Tanzania — through its partnership with the government of Tanzania under Twiga Minerals Corporation — announced full international scholarships for five outstanding Tanzanian students to pursue bachelor’s degrees in mining and geology at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.
The initiative is part of Barrick’s Africa and Middle East Bursary Programme and its broader Young Scholars Empowerment Programme, a long-term strategy aimed at building a strong pipeline of globally competitive mining professionals.
For Barrick, the move reflects a clear philosophy: Responsible mining is not only about how minerals are extracted from the ground, but also about how opportunities are created above it.
Investing in skills, not just sites
Speaking during the official announcement and farewell ceremony, Barrick Country Manager Melkiory Ngido described the scholarships as a tangible demonstration of the company’s commitment to sustainable development and national capacity building.
“Barrick has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to responsible mining and the development of national skills by offering full international scholarships to five Tanzanians to pursue bachelor’s degree programmes in South Africa,” Dr Ngido said.
“Our responsibility does not end with operating our mines according to international standards,” he added. “We are also committed to equipping Tanzanians — especially young people — with the skills they need, because they are the future experts who will take this industry to the next level.”
The scholarships cover full cost of international study and are designed as part of a long-term talent pipeline rather than a one-off initiative.
Barrick has also committed to supporting the students throughout their studies and offering professional development opportunities within its Tanzanian operations once they graduate — reinforcing a broader strategy to cultivate local expertise for the country’s growing mining sector.
