This paper is based upon the experiences of collaborating academics in two mining schools and their personal view of attempts to integrate the principles of sustainable development into mining education and research. In this quest, the concept of sustainable mining practices is proposed, not only relating to environmental, social and economic performance but also stressing mine safety and efficiency. These practices need to support strategies that enable flexibility and resilience within mine operations to counter recessionary cycles. Also, these counter-cyclical strategies are now imperative for sustaining mining education and research itself. There is a critical interdependence between these two different perspectives on sustainability'._x000D_
The paper concludes by demonstrating models of strategies that promote inter-disciplinarity, collaboration and networking for sustaining mining schools._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Laurence, D and Scoble, M, 2009. Integration of sustainability into mining schools - counter-cyclical strategies, in Proceedings SDIMI 2009 - Sustainable Development Indicators in the Minerals Industry, pp 155-162 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).