Stone for Development Work-Integrated Learning Program (now Mineral Security Masterclass)

In July 2024, geoscientists from Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Australia participated in the Stone for Development Work Integrated Learning Program.
This program, led by the University of Queensland (UQ) and Fiji’s Mineral Resources Department (MRD), trains early-career geoscientists in sustainable development challenges related to Pacific Development Minerals, while also building practical geoscience knowledge and skills.
The SFD program includes 40 hours of online training, followed by a two-week in-person placement in Fiji for scholarship recipients. For 2024, there were 36 registered online participants whereby 18 students (funded by DFATs new Colombo Plan) participated on work placements in Fiji and engaged in projects such as geological hazard mapping and assessment, environmental monitoring of river gravel extraction, river gravel resource assessment, and exploring the role of stone in Fiji’s architectural and cultural heritage.