There is a growing need to introduce distance learning and along with it the implementation of IT technologies in teaching. The current COVID-19 pandemic places high demands on the rapid introduction and improvement of distance learning. To face this challenge the project brings new innovative course in the field of technical education all in e-learning form, including support to teachers to develop digital competencies to adapt to distance learning. Having terminated either underground or surface mining, the post-mining regions are being reclaimed and redeveloped. When former mines are being closed and redeveloped, reclamation and redevelopment measures are planned for regions affected by mining, while it is advantageous to consider the use of abandoned mines or old mine workings in a way that is beneficial not only for the given community. There are many options how abandoned mines can be exploited, for example for the purposes of energy recovery (exploitation of mine water geothermal potential, pumped-storage power plants, etc.), as sources of drinking or service water, research purposes, tourism, etc. Nowadays, coal mining is facing a prominent phase-out and it is necessary to deal with the questions related to this issue. The forms of the phase-outs and the use of abandoned mines within the EU differs widely. In Germany and Spain, the coal regions have been transformed fully, where the use of abandoned mines and brownfields has been on a high level. The situation in the Czech Republic and Poland is the opposite. Black coal mining in the Czech Republic is planned to be terminated within the next 3 years. Therefore, primarily the Czech Republic faces the question how to use the would-be abandoned mines and brownfields in the future. In connection with the gradual underground mining phase-out, it is also important to update the study curricula for mining programmes in order to prepare experts in mining as well as experts able to maximize the potential of abandoned mines. Taking into consideration the specificities of different regions, it is important to search for new ways how to exploit the potential of old and newly terminated mine workings. The core of the project is to liaise EU experts from regions with rich experience and experts from countries that are beginning to face the challenge. The major output of the project is the creation of a new e-learning course “Use of Abandoned Mines”. Thanks to the project, we will initiate the formation of a unique community of experts and exchange of experience and knowledge not only among scholars within the EU countries (Germany (2), Spain (1), Czech Republic (1) and Poland (1)). Most importantly, thanks to the creation of a new university course, the knowledge and experience will be shared with mining and engineering students. Within the project, the syllabus and contents of the new course will be discussed among the project partners, and we plan to run a pilot course for the involved institutions’ students (in the form of a summer school). Next, based on the participants’ feedback and evaluation of the course, the course will be perfected and incorporated into the curriculum. At the end of the project, we plan to organize a final conference “The potential of abandoned mine workings in the EU”. The main results will be: - Kit of educational materials to the course - to be used separately or as a complex course, including tools (best practices examples, case studies, worksheets and templates) for modern teaching - E-learning Moodle course - incl. presentations, case studies, manuals, examples, templates, links to other resources and literature, pictures from workshops, links to communities, etc. intended for distant learning with the use of digital technologies and also support to full-time studies The project objectives, tasks and progress will be consulted with the mining experts and local and regional authorities in partner countries. The main target group of the project will be university students of technical studies and also academic workers, respectively professional public. After the end of the project, the new study course will be implemented into the study plans of the master's study at VSB (national audience). The new study course will also be offered in the partner institutions (Spain, Germany, Poland) as well as to visiting students to the universities, eg. within the ERASMUS project (EUlevel). All materials will be available to download at the project website and partners ́ universities websites. Open access for the public to a digital form of this material will be ensured. After the end of the EU funding the educational materials and approaches will be included into curricula at the involved universities. All materials will remain available for free download and use. The cooperation among the partners is foreseen to continue in form of other study visits, joint events (workshops, seminars), projects and other R&D activities.
The core of the project is to prepare experts in mining as well as experts to able to maximize the potential of abandoned mines. And also to link EU experts from regions with rich experience and experts from countries that are beginning to face the challenge - to search for new ways how to exploit the potential of old and newly terminated mine workings. The major output of the project was the e-learning course “Use of Abandoned Mines”. Thanks to the project, it is initiated the formation of a unique community of experts and exchange of experience and knowledge within the EU countries. Most importantly, thanks to the creation of a new university course, the knowledge and experience are shared with mining engineering students. It is very important to prepare experts and engineers for planning of mine closure and their usage in time before mines will be closed and redeveloped. Thus help to aviod making the incorect solutions that have already been proved unsuccessful or even dangerous. New study subject is already implemented in the teaching plan for the upcoming academic year at several study programs VSB-TUO and some parts has been taken over and integrated to study subjects in partner universities as well.
Nowadays, underground coal mining is facing a prominent phase-out and it is necessary to deal with the questions related to this issue. The forms of the phase-outs and the use of abandoned mines within the EU differs widely. In Germany and Spain, most coal regions have been transformed fully, where the use of abandoned mines and brownfields has been on a high level. The situation in the Czech Republic and Poland is the opposite. Black coal mining in the Czech Republic is planned to be terminated within the next years. Therefore, primarily the Czech Republic faces the question how to use the would-be abandoned mines and brownfields in the future. In connection with the gradual underground mining phase-out, it is also important to update the study curricula for mining programmes in order to prepare experts in mining as well as experts to able to maximize the potential of abandoned mines. Taking into consideration the specificities of different regions, it is important to search for new ways how to exploit the potential of old and newly terminated mine workings. The core of the project is to liaise EU experts from regions with rich experience and experts from countries that are beginning to face the challenge.