Course

BRIMM 111: New Perspectives on Mine Closure (Summer 2025)

May 5, 2025 - Jun 28, 2025

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Full course description

Welcome to BRIMM 111: New Perspectives on Mine Closure

Mine closure is an issue of growing importance for mining companies, the communities that host operations, indigenous peoples, and governments with regulatory oversight of closure planning. In the coming years, the world’s top miners are expected to spend over $50 billion (USD) closing mines and managing legacy sites. For many stakeholders and rightsholders, there is a growing expectation that successful closure plans will go beyond remediation and short-term technical solutions to consider the complex socio-economic aspects of closure. Best practice planning is now expected to include measures that support a just transition for workers, communities, and governments as the jobs, taxes, royalties, and philanthropic investments associated with producing mines diminish and then disappear.

In this course, we will examine the social and environmental dimensions of mine closure. We will take guidance from best practice frameworks for closure, examine applied cases to analyze issues of interest and hear from experts working in the field.

Course Format

Classes will be conducted online and will include analyzing best practices, small group work, guest speakers, and applied case assessment.

Live Sessions

Two synchronous online classes will take place at 4:00 PM (PST) on Monday, May 5th, and Monday, May 19th, 2025. Participation is mandatory to successfully complete the program.

Course Materials

Readings, videos, exercises and other activities for each week will be posted in the modules section on the UBC Canvas site.


⏳Six weeks/30 hours total | 📖 Two live sessions (90 minutes), online materials, activities and assessments | 🧑‍🏫 Jocelyn Fraser, Andre Xavier


Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the participants will be able to:

  • Understand key closure concepts, compliance requirements, guiding principles and industry best practice.
  • Build knowledge and skills to ask the right questions to address current and future challenges related to closure.
  • Consider alternative and transformational approaches to closure.
  • Integrate environmental, social and economic considerations into mine closure plans.
  • Analyze issues of materiality related to mine closure.
  • Apply mine closure practices in complex contexts.
  • Contribute towards creating a comprehensive mine closure plan that supports a just transition for local stakeholders and rightsholders.
Modules

  • Module 1A: Introduction and Overview
  • Module 1B: The Way it Was/Times They are A Changing . . .LIVE CLASS
  • Module 2A: Guidelines, Frameworks and Protocols
  • Module 2B: Reimagining Closure
  • Module 3: Who Decides? LIVE CLASS
  • Module 4: Sustainable Livelihoods
  • Module 5:  Public Hearing
  • Module 6:  Financial Considerations

Open Badge

Upon completion, students will receive a verifiable badge via Canvas Credentials. 

Canvas Badge

Support

⚠️ UBC BRIMM may cancel or reschedule a course at any time and for any reason as it sees fit. The Start Date and the other details of programs and courses are provided as a general guide only and may change from time to time.

⏳ All offerings in this program include 30 hours of live sessions, online resources, readings, activities, and assessments. However, to pass, you may need to commit further time.

📌 Learning is done 100% remotely.

🪙 Price subject to change. Please check the price at the time of purchase.