The school said Siemens' contribution to the centre will have a significant role in developing human resource capabilities for of its artisans and will help broaden students' thinking in terms of career capabilities.

The recent donation, the value of which was not disclosed, is part of a seven-year partnership between the two groups, with the company noting that industrial networks and security are top pillars of mining sector digitalisation.

"New technology trends in mining, in the form of mining software and innovations in water resilience, are offering great opportunities for efficiency gains and are worth investigating for adaptation across the sector," Siemens said. "There is an opportunity, especially in Africa, to embrace new and exponential technologies combined with human talent to accelerate industrialisation while driving economic growth."

Anglo executive head of processing Gary Humphries noted that, since the two first partnered in 2010, about 298 artisans have been trained and qualified at the centre.

"This vital contribution by Siemens to ESTC will significantly contribute towards the development of the human resource capabilities of our artisans and will help broaden the thinking of the students to explore new career capabilities.

"We celebrate the handover of the Siemens Simatic Wall and look forward to the role it will play in training the current and next generation of skilled artisans."

ESTC, located in Randfontein, offers training for engineering and stope servicemen as well as learnerships, apprenticeships, artisan short courses, foreman development, planned maintenance and other specialised short courses. It offers students to enroll in open learning for their technical studies NTC programme at Westcol Randfontein while at the centre.