In recent decades, RAG Aktien\u00adgesellschaft, Essen\/Germany, has actually only known one direction: closure of shafts, socially acceptable staff reductions. In this context, the company also had to discontinue its training activities at the end of 2018. Until then, RAG had given over 100,000 young people a career perspective. The company has now completed its strategic realignment from a former coal producer to a responsible shaper of the post-mining era. The company needs experts for this demanding job again. And it will also be providing training again from 2025 (Figure 1). Peter Schrimpf, CEO of RAG: \u201cThis is a clear signal. We have mastered the company\u2019s transformation process and are looking to the future with optimism. And we want to shape the future with young people again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s mission is to improve the quality of life in mining regions \u2013 day after day. In doing so, RAG acts responsibly towards people, the environment, the climate and finances. The tasks are demanding: They involve securing mining sites and developing former mining land into sites for the future and, of course, the perpetual task of mine water management. This involves intelligent solutions for making increasing use of the potential of mine water. And it involves operating the pumps in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner. RAG aims to become CO2<\/sub>\u00a0neutral by 2030.<\/p>\n The company applies outstanding specialist and expert knowledge from various disciplines to accomplish these tasks sustainably. The company currently employs around 600 people. However, many of them will retire in the next few decades. RAG is therefore already focusing on recruiting activities again \u2013 around 20 new employees from various fields have already been hired. Schrimpf: \u201cAnd since we ourselves know best what we need, we now want to offer young people exciting prospects with a solid education.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to us that young people also start their careers in an optimal environment,\u201d says Susanne Hardies, Chairwoman of the RAG Group Works Council. \u201cIn mining, one thing has always been true: You can rely on each other, both above and below ground, and for all generations,\u201d says Hardies. Mining is associated with a sense of responsibility, reliability, commitment, solidarity and cooperation. \u201cWe want the new apprentices in the post-mining era to experience this too!\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, the retraining programmes have also changed with the company\u2019s realignment. Particular emphasis should be placed here on one occupation that is certainly not an everyday occurrence in the field of training and which also shows how exciting the topics of post-mining are at RAG. This is the occupation:<\/p>\n Environmental technologist for wastewater management<\/strong><\/p>\n During the training, the focus is on the maintenance and servicing of systems, pumps and machines \u2013 including electrical engineering work \u2013 at RAG\u2019s water management sites. The training offers insights into monitoring the rise of mine water using RAG\u2019s modern control centre. It also covers water treatment and processing, as well as the analysis and evaluation of water samples. Trainees also learn how to handle raw materials, auxiliary materials and hazardous substances. In addition, the training offers insights into sustainable energy generation and efficient energy management.<\/p>\n Further apprenticeships will be offered in the following areas:<\/p>\n