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LESSONS FOR GLOBALIZATION: HOW MINING STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMS MAKE A DIFFERENCE ALASKAN STYLE China vs. U.S.—Socialism/Communism vs. Democracy/Capitalism--Oppression vs. Freedom? Phrases, stereotypes, and dicta from our past still haunt and color our rapidly evolving perspective and understanding of that immense “red” nation who recently hosted probably the most flamboyant and entertaining Olympic display in history. The world most definitely noticed, but the extravaganza also alerted us not only to China’s wealth but growing social needs. Conversely, even the most devout of the Chinese Communist elite find their attention drawn to inevitable dictates of globalization and awakening demands of its one billion-plus population. And China has discovered that, as in all things, change is the one and only certainty in the world. Alaska’s position along the Pacific Rim, the fabled “Ring of Fire,” gives the U.S. strategic access to the Far East: former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Guttierrez recently commented: “Alaska is the ‘window of trade’ to Asia.” Mining and education are two of the more prominent examples of China’s expanding needs as it begins to reshape its role and place in world politics, economy, and environmental challenges. Here at UAF [University of Alaska Fairbanks] a successful mining engineering student exchange program helps address these demands while also promoting broader cultural understanding between China and the U.S. Professor Gang Chen, Chair: Department of Mining & Geological Engineering, along with Interim Dean Dr. Doug Goering twice visited five of China’s leading universities during 2008, signing three of them into a student exchange program contract. The current program includes approximately 20 students, though it could easily double that enrollment without having to expand lab size or faculty number. Eventually, Chen explained, they also hope to send U.S. students to China, but a language program (on our side) still remains. Chinese students start learning English in high school and “more or less, they know something.” But here, he added, with our students [knowledge of Chinese] “is probably zero.” Even though the program may seem to be one-sided at this time, through some mutual understanding of critical technological mining issues both Chinese and U.S. students contribute to strengthening more positive economic, political, and social connections between the two countries. Exporting and importing are near the top of that list. During a recent visit with Chen, I asked about China’s main import concerns and he focused first on China’s energy needs commenting that “China is interested in so many different things,” and, even though it is the number one coal producer in the world [2.5 billion tons last year, twice as much as the U.S.,] the country is “hungry for many different materials” particularly after last May’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake. Zinc, aluminum, iron and iron ore are critical imports. Yet it is still coal that fuels the nation as China’s oil resources are very limited. Another one of China’s concerns is mining safety, particularly involving coal extraction. As Chen emphasized, “The Chinese mining industry has a very bad reputation, yet the U.S. has one of the best [in the world.] The Chinese fatality rate is about 100 times that of the U.S. For example, for the same volume of coal mined, if the U.S. has one fatality, the Chinese have about 100.” On top of that, mining labor in China is cheap, probably equivalent to $200/month in U.S. dollars. Safety management is a critical concern, and the UAF program not only teaches but, therefore, exports this technology. But the attitude is equally critical, the “mentality, how they think about things. If you don’t have that, you can’t apply it,” he stressed, adding that China is also eager to understand Western business and marketing methods and strategies—again, more issues about understanding new attitudes. Regarding other mining issues Chen observed that “China is such a big country, development is unequal, and more rapid development exists in the eastern and southeastern coastal areas while the interior and northwest are poorly developed.” Even though many state-owned mines possess modern equipment probably equivalent to ours, many local, village, or county mines use very low level, even primitive technology. “There is a big gap, and we can bring more technology to them.” Yet Chen cited one particularly interesting success story one could easily entitle: “Local Boy Makes Good.” Chen Jinhe, an alumnus of Fuzhou University (one of the five schools Chen and Goering visited,) acquired the Zijin gold and copper mine in the Fujian province which was producing low grade ore. However, Jinhe soon discovered (through an acquired technological insight) the low cost of cyanide heap leaching and presented an investment opportunity to his employees encouraging/persuading them to participate in his new plan. About 30% did, and even though they still own part of the mine, he is (in Chen’s words) “filthy rich.” Having accomplished that, Jinhe felt an allegiance to his alma mater and, in an almost Bill Gates or Warren Buffet style, donated enough money to Fuzhou U. in 2006 to restart its mining school while the Zijin mine has since become one of the largest gold/copper mines in both China and the world. Another successful marriage of mining and education. Education is one of the top ruling social mandates in today’s China and serves as a critical testing ground for advancing positive China/United States relations. Couple that concept with mutual essential mining development needs, and both countries can also expect more potentially successful cultural communication as well. The exchange of ideas and investigation of possibilities have laid sound groundwork for our expanding globalization phenomenon, and China wants to be part of that. I asked Dr. Chen what he thought about the Chinese people’s
growing awareness of what the rest of the world has to offer and,
maybe, “wanting some of that” once they have begun to
realize their country’s huge disparity between the very low,
the peasants, and the opposite, the elite. Did he think that this
expanding realization extends beyond just the political into this
venue, as well? Could improvement of mining technology through
education exchange also lead to better communication between China
and the United States? Vigorously nodding his head, he grinned:
“Exactly, exactly.” Kathryn G. Arlen is a freelance writer and communication consultant in Fairbanks, AK, and can be reached at mindmerger@hotmail.com |
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