Representatives of RMG and the Georgian Technical University (GTU) paid a working visit to Leoben Mining University in Austria.
During the three-day trip, the delegation participated in a series of orientation and working meetings. The Georgian side also visited the operational Erzberg mine and its enrichment plant.
The RMG delegation included Giorgi Chkheidze, Deputy General Director for Human Resources Management; Deputy Production Directors – Archil Jakeli and Revaz Lobjanidze; and Giorgi Khetsuriani, Professor at the Faculty of Mining and Geology at GTU.
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and the academic and scientific communities of both countries, explore the development of joint educational programs, and discuss opportunities for retraining Georgian specialists in mining and geology.
“Cooperation between RMG and Leoben University began in 2020, during our first working visit to Austria. This second visit proved even more productive, yielding several concrete outcomes.
We agreed to establish a Georgian-Austrian Engineering and Technology Center and student space at GTU’s Faculty of Mining and Geology, with RMG’s support. In addition to this, starting next semester, Leoben University is ready to host up to 20 GTU students through an exchange program, covering their tuition fees.
Additionally, we held discussions about sending RMG employees to Leoben for retraining. This presents a valuable opportunity for our professionals to upgrade their skills and qualifications.
Equally important was our visit to the Erzberg mine. Together with our production team, we introduced the company’s operational processes, ecological and sustainability initiatives, and their tourism infrastructure – which once inspired our own efforts to develop industrial tourism at RMG,” said Giorgi Chkheidze.
At Leoben University, the delegation met with the heads of four key mining departments: Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics, Mineral Resources Engineering, Mineralogy and Petrology, and Energy Geosciences. Discussions covered ongoing research projects, innovative approaches in academic programs, and how these innovations might be incorporated into Georgian curricula. The sides also explored the potential for launching joint scientific projects between Leoben University and GTU – particularly in the fields of sustainable energy and geotechnics.
The second day of the visit focused on Austria’s largest open-pit mine – Erzberg. The tour included visits to production facilities, quality control laboratories, and live demonstrations of operational processes. The day concluded with a Q&A session, where participants discussed prospects for future cooperation and ways to incorporate international experience into Georgian mining and geology education.