INTERNATIONAL COMPETENCIES PROVIDED BY FORESTRY EDUCATION IN FINLAND

Publications 2011:2

© Finnish National Board of Education and Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Publications 2011:2

ISBN 978-952-13-4774-0 (pdf)

Layout: Timo Päivärinta/PSWFolders Oy

www.oph.fi /english

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ................................................................................................. 4

Universities ................................................................................................... 5 University courses and international Master’s programmes .......................... 5 University of Helsinki .............................................................................. 5 Master’s Degree Programme in Forest Sciences and Business (MScFB) ................................................................... 6 Transatlantic Master’s Degree Program in Forest Resources (Atlantis) ........................................................................................ 7 Cross-Border University Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE) .................. 8 International Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) ........................................................................................ 8 GIFN – Global Industrial Forestry Network ................................ 8 University of Eastern Finland .................................................................. 9 Master’s Degree Programme in European Forestry (MSc EF) .... 10 Cross-Border University Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE) ........... 11 Transatlantic Forestry Master (Transfor-M) ................................. 12 Master’s Degree Programme in Environmental Biology (MSc EnvBio) .................................................................. 12 NOVA University Network ............................................................................ 13 Exchange programmes .................................................................................. 14 Erasmus Programme .............................................................................. 14 Nordplus ................................................................................................. 15 FIRST ...................................................................................................... 15 Campus Europae .................................................................................... 16 Bilateral exchanges and other exchange programmes ........................ 16 Popularity of exchange study ....................................................................... 16 University of Helsinki ............................................................................ 16 University of Eastern Finland ................................................................ 17

Universities of applied sciences ................................................................. 19 Forestry-related education ............................................................................ 19 Study exchange and work placement .......................................................... 20

Vocational Qualifi cation in Forestry ...................................................... 23

International student organizations ........................................................... 25 IFSA – International Forestry Students’ Association .................................... 25

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Introduction

This publication is an abridgement of a report by a Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry committee on the provision of international competencies by for-estry education in Finland. The report is part of a national programme (Suomen metsäosaamisen vienti) headed by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and For-estry aimed at promoting the export of Finnish forestry expertise. The full report (in Finnish) is available via the Ministry’s website: http://www.mmm.fi /fi /index/etusivu/metsat/kvmetsapolitiikka/metsaosaamisenvienti.html.

The purpose of this abridged version is to bring to light the international com-petencies currently provided by forestry education in Finland. The information has been compiled from the websites of the relevant Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences and supplemented by a questionnaire survey sent to each of these institutions. Together with the questionnaires, a preliminary internationality survey was also sent to each of the universities and institutions for review, and this was subsequently completed using the questionnaire results. The information presented is not comparable across the board due to differences in statistical reporting between institutions. For example, some institutions included work placements as well as exchanges of less than three months duration in their reported fi gures for student exchange activity.

The international competencies covered here include learning outcomes or com-petences related to both generic skills and substantive (i.e. specifi c professional and vocational) skills that enhance the ability of Finnish forest industry pro-fessionals to operate in international contexts. The principal generic skills that serve to enhance international competency are language and communication. The production of international competencies with respect to substantive skills, however, is somewhat more multifaceted. Here, the study of foreign forest sectors serves to directly increase international knowledge. However, some disciplines and methods lend themselves more readily to international contexts than others. Microeconomics, for example, is more universally applicable than fi nancial and management accounting, which is subject to country-specifi c legislation.

In addition to classroom instruction, international competencies are sought, in particular, through international student exchanges, work placements and Mas-ter’s degree programmes. The primary focus of this publication is on the compe-tencies produced by university education, as it is graduates at this level that are relatively more likely to go on to work in international contexts. A university level education is, for instance, a basic requirement for many international develop-ment aid organisation positions.

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Universities

University courses and international Master’s programmesThe principal difference between universities and universities of applied science is that university education is predominantly science based. University education also actively draws on both domestic and international research. As the research community is in itself international, at least some degree of international research activity also fi lters through into university education in Finland.

Forestry and forest sciences are taught at two universities in Finland: the Univer-sity of Eastern Finland and the University of Helsinki. The educational approach and content have undergone radical changes in recent years at both universities, where the general objective has been to better anticipate and take into account the demands of the changing environment.

University of HelsinkiForestry education provision at the Department of Forest Sciences of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Helsinki is undergoing reform, and the main subjects offered will change for the academic year 2011–2012. The new main subjects are forest ecology and management and forest economics and marketing. The student intake for forest sciences courses has in recent years ranged between 73–84 students per year. The total number of Master’s degrees in forestry conferred by the university in the years 2009 and 2008 was 28 and 149 respectively, and the average for the immediately preceding years was 55.

Figure 1. Number of forestry graduates from the University of Helsinki, 2000–2010

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The University of Helsinki Department of Forest Sciences is an internationally oriented institution. This is evident from the department’s vision and values as laid out in its forestry education strategy for 2010–2016 (Metsäopetuksen strategia 2010–2016). Internationality is an integral aspect of course studies, particularly within the Master’s degree programme in which virtually all advanced special-ized courses are held in English. Communication skills and cultural competence are recognized as core aspects of international competence and are developed in each of the study modules. Different lines of study and areas of specialisation have different numbers of international courses and courses taught in English, as shown in Table 1. The table however only indicates the number, not length, of the courses offered.

Table 1. Department of Forest Sciences courses taught in English.

Total number of courses taught in English

Number of courses taught in English at BSc level

Forest Ecology 23 6Forest Economics 11 0Forest Products Marketing 5 2Forest Resource Science and Technology 16 5

In addition to both national languages (Finnish and Swedish), the basic language requirement also includes one foreign language. The department’s Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI) also increases student internationalisation by offering courses on tropical forest management and developing countries. Of the depart-ment’s regular teaching staff members, four (12%) are from outside Finland.

The Department of Forest Sciences is a participant in four international Master’s degree programmes. The department’s two-year Master’s degree programmes in English (120 credits1) have an annual intake of 15–25 new students. The pro-grammes are also publicized among Finnish-speaking students, for example via e-mail lists, student guidance, information sessions, and university web pages.

Master’s Degree Programme in Forest Sciences and Business (MScFB)

Table 2. Student numbers in the MScFB programme.

Number of students in programme Number of Finnish students2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

MScFB 4 11 8 9 12 4 in total

1 Study credit or ECTS credit = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit. 60 ECTS credits are equivalent to one academic year, i.e. 1600 hours of study. One study credit thus corresponds to approximately 26.7 hours of study.

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The programme provides a multidisciplinary and global perspective on the forest industry. The programme’s maximum annual admission is 20 students (15 after 2011), the majority of whom are from abroad. The programme covers four main subjects: forest ecology, forest economics, forest resource science and technol-ogy, and forest products marketing. Two specialised study options are offered: science-based specialized studies and theme-based multidisciplinary studies. The study modules of the Master’s degree programmes are the same as the Finnish basic degree programmes in many respects. The MScFB programme offers four tailored courses for the programme students which are also open to other stu-dents.

Transatlantic Masters Degree Program in Forest Resources (Atlantis)

Table 3. Number of students in the Atlantis Master’s degree programme.

Number of students in programme Number of Finnish students2009 2010 2009 2010

Atlantis Program 7 13 3 5

The general objective of the Atlantis (Actions for Transatlantic Links and Aca-demic Networks for Training and Integrated Studies) programme is to increase cooperation between the EU and the United States in higher and vocational education, to enhance the quality of this education and to increase cross-Atlantic mobility. Mobility is promoted by, for example, supporting student and research-er exchanges and Master’s degree programmes. The participant institutions in the double degree Transatlantic Masters Degree Program in Forest Resources are the University of Helsinki (UH), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sci-ences (SLU), Michigan Technological University (MTU) and North Carolina State University (NCSU). Funding for the programme has been granted for the years 2008–2012 by the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Education. The future of the programme is thereafter uncertain. Students in the programme in Finland can choose from four main subjects: forest ecology, forest economics, forest products marketing, and forest resource science and technology.

Approximately 4 students are admitted to the Atlantis programme from each part-ner university each year, totalling 12 students per university over the current four-year programme period. All students in the programme spend one semester at the University of Helsinki and at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and one academic year (two semesters) at one of the universities in the United States. Within the programme, EU students receive a scholarship of EUR 12,000 and US students a scholarship of USD 12,000 to study on the other side of the Atlantic. In addition, students of the University of Helsinki and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences can apply for an Erasmus grant or Nordplus scholarship for studies carried out in Sweden. Students completing the programme receive a Finnish as well as a US Master’s degree.

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Cross-Border University Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE)

Table 4. Numbers of students in the CBU FEE Master’s degree programme.

Number of University of Helsinki students in programme Number of Finnish students2008 2009 2008 2009

CBU 1 3 0 0

The CBU Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE) Master’s degree programme is a part of the Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University (CBU) net-work (see the corresponding entry for the University of Eastern Finland below).

International Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) Within the MBIOT programme, students can study biotechnology also with a spe-cialization in forestry. Of the fi ve specializations offered by the programme, one specialization, Biotechnology of Natural Resources, relates closely to the forest industry. The specialization has two branches: Microbial and Environmental Bio-technology, and Plant and Forest Genomics and Biotechnology. The international and multidisciplinary MBIOT programme is provided by the University of Hel-sinki Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences in cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. Cooperation is also conducted with the Insti-tute of Biotechnology and the Neuroscience Center at the University of Helsinki.

The MBIOT programme admits a maximum of 10 new students to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and 15 to the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Students accepted from both faculties can choose Biotechnology of Natural Resources as a specialization.

GIFN – Global Industrial Forestry NetworkThe GIFN was established in August 2007 with the objective of promoting multi-disciplinary approaches for sustainable use and management of natural forests and forest plantations. The network members aim to offer high-quality instruction and research in this fi eld and to offer broad-based international forestry expertise. The University of Helsinki serves as the network co-ordinator.

The most visible activity to date has been the provision of intensive courses in different countries by the Helsinki Summer School. The courses, covering themes such as industrial plantations, international environmental policy and innovative forestry have been held annually in Helsinki, as well as in Brazil Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo in 2009 and in Uruguay in 2010. The GIFN also works to increase the mobility of researchers, doctoral students and other staff within the network.

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University of Eastern Finland The number of new BSc and MSc degree students admitted to the Faculty of Sci-ence and Forestry at the University of Eastern Finland has in recent years totalled approximately 35 per year, out of a total annual student intake of around 330. The number of conferred Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees ranged from 60 to 100 per year during 2005–2009. These fi gures include graduates accepted onto Master’s degree programmes.

The Faculty of Science and Forestry offers four international forestry related Mas-ter’s degree programmes which are implemented together with partner universi-ties. Additionally, the School of Forest Sciences together with the Department of Biology offers an International Study Programme in Environmental Science and Forestry aimed at international exchange students. Around 50–60 students of the latter study module study at the Joensuu campus each year, of which approxi-mately 50–60% major in forest sciences and 30–40% in biology. The purpose of the module is to provide exchange students with an effective study programme while at the same time providing international exposure for the university.

The University of Eastern Finland is also a coordinator of the IPFE (International Partnership for Forestry Education), whose purpose is to develop university level forestry education globally. In addition to promoting cooperation, the IPFE facili-tates the sharing of information, experiences and resources within the organisa-tion. The IPFE’s vision is for forestry education that is contemporary, locally rele-vant and globally connected. The University of Eastern Finland has also provided supplementary forestry education to foresters from India. The university aims to develop similar education exports in the future.

Considerable differences in internationality exist between Bachelor and Master level studies. Of the university’s compulsory Bachelor’s degree courses, only one course is given in English, and only if international exchange students participate in the course. In addition to this, one alternative study module is, however, avail-able for students to take in English. Compulsory Swedish (3 credits) and English (2 credits) language studies are also included in the Bachelor’s programme.

The university’s Finnish language Master’s forestry programmes offer many more courses in English and have a more international focus than its Bachelor’s pro-grammes. Of the advanced specialized courses (50 in total), 21 are, or can be, taught in English. Furthermore, courses related to forest bioenergy, forest policy, forest information systems and wood science are provided comprehensively in English. The Finnish Master’s degree programme also includes either compulsory study abroad or an additional foreign language. The minimum study require-ment for an additional foreign language is, however, extremely low at just three study credits. The Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes each include a compul-sory practical training period which is recommended to be carried out abroad.

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The University of Eastern Finland offers four international forestry related Mas-ter’s degree programmes, including: the Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in European Forestry (MSc EF) programme, the Cross-Border University Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE), and two new programmes to be launched in autumn 2011, the Transatlantic Forestry Master (Transfor-M) programme and the Master’s Degree Programme in Environ-mental Biology (MSc EnvBio). The international Master’s degree programmes are advertised to Finnish students, for example, at information sessions and events by e-mail and on student notice boards. Finnish students have responded with a high level of participation both in the MSc EF programme and the CBU FEE Programme. The course structure of the Master’s programmes are also described in the faculty’s study guide. In addition to Master’s Programmes the Faculty offers a 15 study credit course on Russian forestry, which is open for everyone to par-ticipate.

Master’s Degree Programme in European Forestry (MSc EF)

Table 5. Number of students in the MSc EF Master’s degree programme.

Number of students in programme, School of Forest Sciences

Number of Finnish students

Master’s programme 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010MSc EF 27 26 25 21 17 17 1 0 0 0 0 0

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in European Forestry (MSc EF) is a joint degree programme leading to a double degree offered by a consortium of seven lead-ing European forest universities. MSc EF offers high-quality academic instruction in forestry with a focus on internationality and sustainable forest management. The programme offers a new dimension to the provision of European forestry education as, in addition to enabling students to choose courses from partner universities, each partner university participates in providing special courses for the programme.

MSc EF is open to students from all countries. Around 20 new students are admit-ted to the Master’s degree programme each year. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are also available to applicants from outside Europe. The fee for the academic year is EUR 4,000 for EU/EEA students and EUR 8,000 for students from outside the EU/EEA. Students can apply for scholarships covering the entire course of study, for example from the Erasmus Mundus programme.

In the fi rst academic year, students complete the courses provided by the con-sortium universities and carry out a work placement with a company or research institute. The School of Forest Sciences is responsible for all fi rst-year courses (60 credits). The School offers fi ve courses that are designed exclusively for the pro-gramme participants. In addition to these programme components, the students also take other courses offered by the School in English as necessary. The School

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of Forest Sciences also co-ordinates the programme’s three jointly instructed fi eld courses. In the second year, the students attend courses at different universities and prepare their Master’s thesis in accordance with a personal study plan.

The consortium universities of the MSc EF Programme are University of Eastern Finland (as coordinator), University of Lleida (Spain), University of Freiburg (Ger-many), Wageningen University (the Netherlands), Swedish University of Agricul-tural Sciences (Sweden), BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sci-ences, Vienna (Austria), and the Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences ENGREF (France).

Cross-Border University Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE)

Table 6. Number of CBU FEE Master’s degree programme students from the University of Eastern Finland.

Year Finnish students, School of Forest Sciences

All students, School of Forest Sciences

Students in CBU programme

Students2007 0 2 92008 0 3 62009 0 5 172010 0 3 20

As mentioned in the corresponding entry for Helsinki University above, the CBU Forestry and Environmental Engineering (CBU FEE) Master’s degree programme is a part of the Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University (CBU) network. The part-ner universities of the CBU FEE Master’s degree programme are the University of Eastern Finland (co-ordinator), the University of Helsinki, the Petrozavodsk State University, the Moscow State University of Forestry and the Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical Academy. The partner universities have extensive expertise in forestry and forest ecology, bioenergy production, forest resource management and planning, forest economics and forest policy, wood technology and forest products marketing, and environmental economics and legislation. The Master’s programme offers a fi rst rate international education in forestry, providing the skills needed to operate in expert and research capacities in the fi eld of forest and bioenergy resources. The programme also aims to develop students’ under-standing of different cultures and operating environments. The programme pro-vides the working skills needed to operate professionally in both countries. The language of instruction is English.

At least half of the course content (60 study credits) must be conducted either in or distantly with the partner country. The required minimum physical time abroad is ten weeks and 30 study credits. The remaining 30 study credits to be

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completed abroad can optionally be carried out as cross-border distance study by dividing Master’s thesis supervision between the universities, or by carrying out a work placement or research project in the partner country.

CBU FEE is open to all nationalities. A total of 20 students are admitted to the pro-gramme each year, with a maximum of six students per university. Each partner university carries out its own student admissions. Graduates of the programme receive a degree from their home university together with a Diploma Supplement, as well as a CBU certifi cate. Sources of study grants for the programme include, for example, scholarships granted by the Russian state to Finnish citizens, and Kone Foundation grants. The Programme has not attracted many Finnish forestry students so far.

Transatlantic Forestry Master (Transfor-M)The Transatlantic Forestry Master (Transfor-M) degree programme will begin in autumn 2011. Transfor-M is provided in cooperation with four European (Uni-versity of Freiburg, Bangor University, University of Eastern Finland and Swed-ish University of Agricultural Sciences) and three Canadian (University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of New Brunswick) universities. The programme (120 credits) leads to a double degree consisting of a Finnish (Master of Science in Forestry) and Canadian degree. In addition to the study modules offered by the partner universities, the curriculum includes a compulsory fi eld course in Canada and Europe and an internship. In practice, the students study one year in Europe (60 credits) and one year in Canada (60 credits). The pro-gramme is funded by the EU and Canada (Human Resources and Skills Devel-opment, HRSD). Students can apply for a study scholarship (EUR 1000/month) and a travel grant (EUR 1000). Each year 2–3 students from the School of Forest Sciences go to Canada under the programme and, correspondingly, 2–3 Canadian students come to the Joensuu campus in Finland. The programme also offers exchanges and scholarships for researchers and teachers.

Master’s Degree Programme in Environmental Biology (MSc EnvBio)The Master’s Degree Programme in Environmental Biology (MSc EnvBio) will begin in autumn 2011. MSc EnvBio is a 2–year programme offered by the Depart-ment of Environmental Science, the Department of Biology and the School of Forest Sciences. A total of 20 students are admitted to the programme each year. The programme (120 credits) consists of study modules in the fi eld of environ-mental sciences, biology and forestry.

Over the last fi ve years, the proportion of international graduates has ranged been 25–48% and the number of graduates has totalled 16–33 per year.

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Figure 2. Graduates of forestry-related programmes from the University of Eastern Finland, 2000-2010

In addition, a large number of international postgraduates study at the School of Forest Sciences. The proportion of international doctoral students has also increased over the past seven years, with 1–5 PhD graduates produced each year.

NOVA University Network The NOVA University Network (Nordic Forestry, Veterinary and Agricultural Uni-versity Network), established in 1995, is a cooperation platform of Nordic uni-versities which aims, within its fi elds, to promote research, broaden the scope of education offered, enhance the quality of education and research, and increase the international competitiveness of its member institutions. The NOVA member universities include: University of Helsinki (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine), University of Eastern Finland (School of Forest Sciences), University of Copenhagen (Faculty of Life Sciences), Aarhus University (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences), Agricultural University of Iceland, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The partner universities offering for-estry-related courses include the University of Helsinki, the University of Eastern Finland, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Norwegian Univer-sity of Life Sciences and the University of Copenhagen.

Within the NOVA framework, joint Nordic undergraduate and postgraduate level courses are provided and cooperation networks are created between NOVA mem-bers in common subject areas. The focus is on PhD and MSc studies. In 2010, NOVA offered a total of 21 PhD courses and seven MSc courses in different fi elds, and also began offering BSc summer courses. Each NOVA member university is invited to plan and run NOVA courses and to establish cooperation networks, for which funding can be applied for from NOVA. Finnish universities offering forestry-related studies are also involved in the Nordic Network on Soils and Soci-

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ety (SoilSoc). SoilSoc promotes Nordic cooperation among teachers, students and researchers in the fi eld of soil sciences. Finnish universities have also provided forestry-related PhD courses within other networks.

N OVA’s BSc/MSc and postgraduate courses are open to all students of its member universities and typically consist of 1–2 week intensive courses at a NOVA member university.

NOVA’s partner network in the Baltic region is the BOVA University Network (Baltic Forestry, Veterinary and Agricultural University Network). Cooperation between NOVA and the smaller-scale BOVA network began in 2001. BOVA mem-bers include the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU), the Latvia Univer-sity of Agriculture (LLU), the Lithuanian University of Agriculture (LZUU), and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Veterinary Academy (LSMU-VA). Of these, the EMU, LLU and LZUU each have faculties directly related to forest sci-ences.

Exchange programmesExchange programmes offer Finnish forestry students excellent opportunities for studying abroad. There are a number of international student services offering a range of support for students interested in study exchanges, for example by informing and advising on available host universities and application process-es. Grants are available for exchange study, the source and size of which vary according to each exchange programme.

The most popular exchange programmes for forestry students from Helsinki University and the University of Eastern Finland are Erasmus, Nordplus, FIRST (Finnish - Russian Student and Teacher Exchange Programme) and ISEP (Interna-tional Student Exchange Programme). The University of Helsinki Faculty of Agri-culture and Forestry offers forestry student exchanges on all continents. The Uni-versity of Eastern Finland also has bilateral cooperation agreements with dozens of foreign universities the world over. Many of the agreements involve bilateral exchange.

Students can also apply independently to universities of their choice via the Free Mover system, as many universities also take students outside of exchange pro-grammes. Free Mover students are often required to pay term fees themselves. The Universities of Helsinki and Eastern Finland support Free Movers with travel grants.

Erasmus ProgrammeThe Erasmus Programme is the most popular of the current student exchange programmes. Erasmus is a European Union programme (also including the EEA countries and Turkey), the objective of which is to promote cooperation between universities and the mobility of students, teachers and staff in higher education.

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The University of Eastern Finland has 40 target universities with which it is able to conduct forestry-based study exchanges. The University of Helsinki Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry has exchange agreements with 70 universities, 36 of which offer forestry-based studies. Of these institutions offering forestry-based courses, 15 offer instruction in English and eight in Spanish and/or German, in addition to local languages of instruction such as Dutch, Bulgarian or Turkish. The duration of the exchange is typically 3–12 months depending on the univer-sity or institution. Each student admitted to the exchange programme receives an Erasmus grant, the size of which depends on the duration of the exchange (in 2009–2010 the grant was EUR 1000–2400).

NordplusNordplus is the leading educational programme of the Nordic Council of Min-isters. The programme promotes cooperation and mobility between Nordic and Baltic universities and higher education institutions. The NOVA and BOVA member universities comprise a Nordplus network and, as such, can award Nor-dplus grants for 1–12 months of study. The Nordplus grant is EUR 200 per month, in addition to which students also receive travel grants. In order to be eligible for Nordplus funding, the exchange studies carried out must be recognised by the home faculty as countable towards their degree. Nordplus does not award grants for postgraduate studies, but grants are available for work placements and teacher exchanges.

The University of Eastern Finland is not a member of the forestry-related Nordplus network, but via the Nordlys network (a Nordplus sub-programme), its students can still apply for exchanges outside the subject-specifi c Nordplus networks as ‘free movers’. The Nordlys network grant is EUR 200/month for a maximum of fi ve months. Nordplus also supports so-called ‘express mobility’ programmes, i.e. intensive courses of NOVA and BOVA member universities lasting less than one month. The express mobility grant is EUR 330 per exchange period.

FIRSTThe Finnish-Russian Student Exchange Programme, FIRST, is funded by the Centre for International Mobility (CIMO). The University of Eastern Finland has 18 target universities in the neighbouring regions of Russia with which it is able to con-duct forestry-based study exchanges. Forestry programmes are offered by three universities belonging to the network: the Syktyvkar Forest Institute of the St. Petersburg State Forest Technical Academy, the St. Petersburg State Forest Techni-cal Academy, and Petrozavodsk State University. Instruction is predominantly in Russian, so a good command of Russian is required. Some of the target universi-ties offer a limited range of courses in English. FIRST scholarships are EUR 510/month for a maximum of four months.

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Campus EuropaeThe Campus Europae network is co-ordinated by the European University Foun-dation. The network includes 19 member universities, and student exchanges within the network are usually funded by the Erasmus Programme. Campus Europae serves as a network but does not itself provide funding for exchanges and, as such, is not recognised in published statistics as an independent exchange programme per se. The minimum exchange period is one year, and students are required to complete a 4–6 week intensive language course in the target country prior to the actual exchange. The minimum study requirement to be eligible for a Campus Europae Certifi cate is 45 study credits. The exchange can be conducted partly as an Erasmus work placement. Campus Europae exchanges are supported with scholarships/grants from other exchange programmes (e.g. FIRST scholar-ships for exchanges with St. Petersburg, Erasmus grants for exchanges with Ger-many, etc.).

Bilateral exchanges and other exchange programmesIn addition to the above programmes, the University of Helsinki is also involved in other exchange programmes such as ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs), MAUI (Mid-America Universities International) and AEN (Australian European Network). In addition to these exchange programmes, the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry also has bilateral agreements with universities offering forestry-related courses in Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Indonesia, China, Laos, Mexico, Sudan and Russia. The agreements include student and/or teacher exchanges. The university’s mutual agreements enable students to participate in study exchanges with, for example, Thailand or Brazil. In addition, connections among the univer-sity’s staff members with foreign institutions may be advantageous in opening up international exchange opportunities.

The University of Eastern Finland is also a participant in the ISEP exchange pro-gramme. In addition, students of the European Forestry Master’s programme can also participate in exchange programmes with Brazil and China. The European Forestry programme also provides extensive researcher/teacher exchanges. The University of Eastern Finland also has bilateral agreements with universities in 35 countries. Exchange programmes with virtually all of these countries are open to School of Forest Sciences students. For exchange universities that do not offer forestry-related courses, students can take, for example, an alternative minor sub-ject which counts towards their degree during the exchange.

Popularity of exchange studyUniversity of HelsinkiIncoming exchange students are not allocated to departments beyond the level of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, as exchange agreements are made at the faculty level. Students therefore choose courses from the different departments according to their individual preference and line of study. No record is kept of outgoing exchange students within the Department of Forest Sciences. Data for

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this study therefore had to be obtained from the faculty registers which contain information on all exchanges, including short-term express mobility exchanges. The faculty’s current statistical methods regarding mobility exchanges therefore weaken the comparability of the study results. As a general observation at the faculty level, however, incoming exchange students have outnumbered outgoing exchange students since the year 2006.

Table 7. Numbers of exchange students outgoing from the Department of Forest Sciences and incoming to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (incoming figures only include exchanges of over 3 months; outgoing figures include express mobility exchanges).

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Number of outgoing exchange students* 39 31 27 23 23**Number of incoming exchange students to the faculty 64 77 121 116 92**

* From the current Department of Forest Sciences and preceding forestry departments; ** estimate

Outgoing student exchanges last from one week to 11 months. Express mobil-ity is more common among PhD students than Bachelor or Master level stu-dents. The exchange period for Bachelor/Master degree students is generally 3–11 months, and students normally go on exchange after their Bachelor’s studies or during their Master’s degree. The most popular exchange countries are Spain, Austria, Germany and Russia. Erasmus is the most popular exchange programme. The majority of incoming exchange students to the faculty also come through the Erasmus programme, mainly from Spain, France and Germany. No comprehen-sive statistics are available regarding teacher exchanges, although the numbers are minimal.

University of Eastern Finland

Table 8. Numbers of outgoing exchange students.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Number of outgoing exchange students* 12 55 41 38 45 -

* Figures include mobility under the European Forestry Master’s degree programme.

Study exchanges were made by 52 forestry students during the period 2005–2009. This fi gure does not include student mobility under the European Forestry Mas-ter’s degree programme, which is included in the Table 8 fi gures. A total of 40 students participated in single semester exchanges and 12 students in one-year exchanges. The most popular time for students to go on an exchange is after their Bachelor’s studies or during their Master’s degree. During 2005–2009, there have been exchange students from the School of Forest Sciences on all continents bar-ring Australia. Exchanges have been made with 27 universities in 19 countries, such as Sweden, Russia, Korea, Indonesia, Argentina, Canada and South Africa. The most popular exchange destinations can be deduced based on the most

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popular exchange programmes; Table 9 shows the numbers of students in dif-ferent programmes. Erasmus, i.e. exchanges within Europe, is clearly the most favoured programme. The second most popular route of student exchange is via the university’s own bilateral agreements. When comparing numbers of outgoing students with the University of Helsinki fi gures, it should be taken into account that the University of Eastern Finland School of Forest Sciences is considerably smaller in terms of student numbers than the University of Helsinki Department of Forest Sciences.

Table 9. Most popular student exchange programmes.

Erasmus ISEP Bilateral university agreement

Aseforep Nordplus Other

Number of students 2005–2009 32 3 9 3 2 3

Incoming students outnumber outgoing exchange students. This is due in part to the broad-ranging ‘International Study Programme in Environmental Sciences and Forestry’ and the fact that this programme is implemented in cooperation with the Department of Biology. Around 50–60% of the programme’s participants major in forestry.

Table 10. Numbers of incoming exchange students (exchange programme participants).

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Number of incoming exchange students 61 61 59 60 51 -

Incoming exchange students are, on average, in their third to fi fth year of degree studies. Approximately one third participate in whole-year exchange programmes and two thirds in single semester exchanges. During the 2009–2010 academic year exchange students came from 15 countries, the majority from Europe. During the period 2005–2009 a total of 56 students have come from Spain, 50 from Poland, 42 from the Czech Republic, 36 from Germany, and 35 from France. German, Spanish and French are generally the most common Erasmus nationalities. The most popular exchange programmes among incoming exchange students during academic year 2009–2010 were Erasmus (42), ISEP (7) and independent bilateral exchanges (2). This distribution is largely consistent year on year.

Teacher exchanges have numbered 1–2 per year. In addition, numerous research-er/teacher exchanges have taken place each year under the Erasmus Mundus European Forestry Master’s degree programme. These exchanges have tended to be relatively short, at 2 weeks to 4 months. Foreign teachers also regularly conduct exchanges to the Joensuu campus, both through Erasmus Mundus and through other staff exchange programmes.

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Universities of applied sciences

Forestry-related educationThe Finnish universities of applied sciences (UASs) providing forestry-related education are: Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Kymenlaakso Uni-versity of Applied Sciences (KyUAS)2, Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (MAMK), North Karelia University of Applied Sciences (NKUAS), Rovaniemi Uni-versity of Applied Sciences (RAMK), Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) and Novia University of Applied Sciences. The curricula of all of these institutions include, to varying degrees, components and elements that produce skills and competencies for operating international contexts. The basic studies of all universities of applied sciences (UASs) thus include 3–9 study credits of professional English as well as a number of Swedish study credits. Elective subjects (usually 15 credits) may include additional language studies and a wide range of other internationality related components. HAMK University of Applied Sciences, for example, offers an elective course in international forestry which aims to provide students with both theoretical and practical training and experience in the forestry practices of a specifi c country outside Finland. The course includes a study trip to the target country.

North Karelia University of Applied Sciences offers intensive courses conducted in English which are organised annually in cooperation with international part-ner institutions. Two courses were offered in 2009. One was in bioenergy and was carried out in cooperation with Germany and the UK, the other focused on sustainable development and was carried out in cooperation with Namibia and Botswana.

At Tampere University of Applied Sciences, international competency develop-ment is based predominantly on language courses aimed at equipping students with suffi cient language profi ciency for professional working life. The English lan-guage module also includes intercultural studies. Tampere University of Applied Sciences has demonstrated its capability to provide effective instruction in Eng-lish by running an English language BSc Forestry adult education programme at the end of the 1990s. The programme was discontinued because, although the programme funding had been primarily earmarked for improving the language capability of Finnish students, the majority of students had been from abroad. This gives an indication of a lack of interest in international education at the uni-versity of applied sciences level.

2 KyUAS is removing natural resource studies from its curriculum. No new students were admitted to the course in 2010.

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Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences offers some courses in English (although less than 1% of forestry courses), such as the Centre for International Mobility funded Erasmus Intensive Programme (Erasmus IP) “Socio-economic Challenges in European Forestry” (5 credits) offered in spring 2011, which students from the partner universities also attend.

At Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, in addition to the language courses included in the basic course curriculum or taken as elective subjects, international studies are included as integrated aspects of project management skills, econom-ics and forest policy studies.

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences offers an elective International Forestry module (15 credits) taught in English as part of its vocational studies programme (30 credits). The module includes two courses: Forestry and Forest Management (5 credits) and International Mobility (10 credits). The objective of the Forestry and Forest Management course is to reinforce students’ English language profi -ciency and knowledge of different cultures, economics and forestry, for example as a preparatory course for student exchange.

Study exchange and work placementFinnish universities of applied sciences have nowadays begun to follow suit in encouraging students towards internationalisation, and fi nancial support for exchange programmes is made available by the institutions themselves or from existing exchange programmes. International work placements are also rec-ommended. In addition to exchange system related funding, many UASs also offer their own travel grants which students can also claim for work placements. The most popular time for study exchanges is the start of the second semester, although at some institutions exchanges are left until the third or fourth year. The most popular exchange programmes are provided by Erasmus, although for example Leonardo da Vinci, FIRST and Nordplus are also used, in addition to which virtually every UAS maintains independent bilateral relations with universi-ties and institutes abroad.

Table 11 shows that students from all of the Finnish UASs offering forestry related studies have participated in exchange programmes. The fi gures are, however, modest compared to the total number of students, and considering the exchange systems and related funding opportunities that are available.

Table 11. Incoming and outgoing exchange students from universities of applied sciences offering forestry-related education over the past 2–6 years.

HAMK MAMK NKUAS RAMK SeAMK TAMK Novia4-7 / 3-10 2-6 / 3-9 15-20/12-16 4-8 / 3-19 1-5 / 1-7 2-3 / 0 1 / 2-3

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At HAMK University of Applied Sciences, for example, the most popular exchange countries among students are Kenya, Iceland, Canada, Norway and Germany. The minimum exchange period is three months. Incoming students are usually Erasmus students from Spain, Latvia, Lithuania and France and are in at least their second year of study. Their exchanges at HAMK last from one week to four months. Teacher exchanges have been conducted, among others, with Norway, Latvia and Tanzania, and have been from 1–3 weeks in duration.

At Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (MAMK), the most popular exchange countries have been the Czech Republic and Spain due to close bilateral ties with these countries, although exchanges have also been carried out with Norway, Scotland, Chile, Argentina, Namibia, the USA and Thailand. Personal study plans are drawn up to support exchange programmes where necessary. Tight links have been established with St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg State Forestry Technical Academy, and the St. Petersburg State Technical University of Plant Polymers.

Student exchanges from North Karelia University of Applied Sciences (NKUAS) normally last 3–4 months, and the main exchange countries have been Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Namibia, Greece, Hol-land, France and Botswana. NKUAS has 13 Erasmus partner institutions in the EU with which students can go on exchange, as well as separate student exchange agreements with Russia and the other above-mentioned countries that are out-side the EU. In addition, the North Karelian development cooperation association Pohjois-Karjalan kehitysmaayhdistys administers development projects aimed at the developing world at NKUAS. Project countries in recent years have included, for example, Namibia and Zambia. The project work is voluntary and is carried out by the NKUAS students, thus offering forestry students an additional oppor-tunity to work in international environments.

Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences (RAMK) offers excellent opportunities for student exchange as it is actively involved in bilateral cooperation with higher education institutions in the Barents Region. RAMK also maintains close partner-ships with Mendel University in the Czech Republic and with Pannonia University in Hungary. Group exchanges are being planned with both universities, in which groups of around 15 students will study at the partner university for one semes-ter, and a similar group from the partner university will then study at RAMK in the following semester. RAMK is also developing a joint degree program with, for example, the Mendel University Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology. Addi-tional exchange opportunities are provided by North2north, Magellan, Erasmus, as well as a number of other bilateral exchange agreements. Outgoing student exchanges last from one 3–12 months.

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK) provides considerable fi nan-cial support for student exchanges. The most popular exchange countries have included Scotland (Scottish School of Forestry), Cyprus (Forestry College of Cyprus), France, the Czech Republic (Mendel University in Brno, Forestry College of Pisek), Austria (Österreichische Bundesforsten AG), Russia (Syktyvkar, Komi

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Republic) and the United States (California Polytechnic). Incoming exchange stu-dents arrive sometime before or during the fi nal year.

Student exchanges from the forestry of Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) during 2005–2009 have consisted of long-term programmes lasting more than 3 months, i.e. in practice work placements. The number of students par-ticipating in placements abroad is just 2–3 per year on average. An exception has been the current academic year 2010–2011, during which fi ve students have enrolled in whole semester exchanges. Short exchanges have generally been in the form of annual 2–week group programmes (15–20 students).

Novia is the only Swedish-speaking university of applied sciences offering forest-ry education in Finland. Its forestry programme offers two specializations: forest economics and environmental planning. In addition to offering good options for language studies, cooperation with Novia’s English language study programme – Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) – has been stepped up. Novia maintains cooperation partnerships with other Nordic forestry institutes. Students can participate in profi ling studies at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sci-ences (SLU) and in Norway. Novia also maintains good connections with Ice-land, and is also a participant in the Nordplus programme which, in addition to the Nordic region, also includes the Baltic countries. Novia’s output of forestry exchange students is roughly one every two years, the most popular countries being Norway and the United States. Exchanges normally take place towards the end of the studies, the most common duration being 3–6 six months.

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Vocational Qualifi cation in Forestry (120 study-week credits3)

The Vocational Qualifi cation in Forestry, an upper secondary vocational qualifi ca-tion, offers virtually no incentives towards internationalisation or opportunities to acquire the skills needed to work in international contexts. The degree was redefi ned in 2009 in cooperation with employers and industry in order to bring it closer in line with industry requirements within Finland.

The amount of compulsory language instruction is extremely limited. The cur-riculum includes 4 study weeks of mother tongue studies (Finnish or Swedish) 1–2 study weeks of second national language studies (Finnish or Swedish), and 2 credits of one foreign language. The foreign language can be either language level A or B and is usually English. Table 12 shows the difference between com-pulsory and optional language instruction. Students with Finnish as their mother tongue are required to do less compulsory instruction in the second national language than Swedish-speaking Finns.

Table 12. Amount of language study included in the Vocational Qualification in Forestry as measured in study weeks.

Compulsory OptionalMother tongue 4 0-4Second national language, Swedish 1 0-4Second national language, Finnish 2 0-4Foreign language 2 0-4

The target level for the second national language is defi ned as: ‘The student is able to perform routine forest work tasks and function in everyday contexts in their second national language’. The level A foreign language targets are some-what more demanding: The student communicates and functions suffi ciently well in the language to

be able to carry out their profession within the forest industry, to participate in working life, to serve as an active member of society, and to go on to further education

3 One study-week credit = approx. 40 hours of study

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The student has a good command of forestry-related language and terminol-ogy. The student can function effectively in a multi-cultural and multilingual environment

The vocational components of the programme contribute little to internation-al competency development, although certain assessment criteria do give some reference to functioning internationally. In a supplementary vocational skills module, students can take an ‘intercultural skills’ course equivalent to 0–4 study-week credits as an optional subject. However, the supplementary vocational skills module as a whole only contains 20 study weeks, of which compulsory courses account for 15–16 weeks, and the other competing optional subjects available for the module include, among others, languages, physical education, psychology and health education. The intercultural skills course is, however, valuable with respect to fostering international competency as it provides the student with a wider view of the world and improves their ability to work effectively in and with other cultures.

Some forestry schools do offer student exchanges or work placements abroad and bilateral teacher exchanges are also sometimes arranged. For the purposes of this review, student exchanges are taken to mean exchanges of minimum 3–month duration, unless otherwise stated.

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International student organizations

Students also have the opportunity to participate in international student organi-zation activities and therefore gain additional international skills that may be of benefi t in their future career. Involvement is voluntary and open to all students. One international organisation in which Finnish forestry students have been active is the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA). Another interna-tional student organisation that is open to forestry students is the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS). The IFSA is, however, the more popular organisation among Finnish forestry students.

IFSA – International Forestry Students’ AssociationThe IFSA is a non-governmental, non-profi t and non-religious umbrella organisa-tion for student forestry organisations and is run entirely by students on a volun-tary basis. Finnish IFSA members include Forestry Students Helsinki (Helsingin yliopiston Metsäylioppilaat ry), the Association of Forestry Students in Joensuu (Itä-Suomen yliopiston Metsäylioppilaat ry) and the MEOL Forestry Students’ Association (MEOL - Metsäalan Opiskelijat ry), the latter being the national asso-ciation for students studying in Finnish universities of applied sciences offering forestry based studies. Each Finnish member organisation appoints its own dif-ferent IFSA contact person each year. All registered members of these Finnish student organisations automatically receive IFSA membership and are therefore free to participate in the IFSA’s international operations.

The IFSA offers active students an exceptional range of opportunities to gain international experience. The IFSA organises seminars, exchanges, exchange weeks and small-scale development cooperation projects, and offers students the chance to be involved in a variety of administrative roles within the organisa-tion, thus providing opportunities to develop organisational and leadership skills within an international environment.

The International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS) is the biggest individual event in the IFSA calendar, in addition to which numerous smaller local and regional forest-related meetings and events are held, to which all forestry stu-dents are welcome to attend. Finnish students have been highly active in the IFSA. In addition to organising a score of smaller international events, the three Finnish member organisations will jointly host the organisation’s biggest event, the IFSS symposium, in summer 2011. The event is expected to bring academics, professionals, alumni and around 150 students from around the world to Finland.

In addition to managing organisational events, students are elected to the IFSA’s administrative roles, which offers an additional practical dimension to their inter-

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national working experience. The international exposure provided by the IFSA’s internal exchange programme, fund raising activities, member recruitment activi-ties by regional representatives, the translation of IFSA material and publications into different languages, communication with different international organisations and cooperation partners, the drawing up of IFSA education reports and state-ments, and the management and organisation of IFSA events, equip students with valuable experience of international cooperation processes.

In addition to its own operations, the IFSA has extensive connections with other international forestry and forest-related organisations and cooperation bodies such as the IUFRO, EFI, CFA, IPFE, MCPFE and FAO. In addition, the IFSA Exchange Programme aims to support the work placement of forestry students by seeking placements through its partner organisations and through its international net-work of member student organisations.

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OnlineISBN 978-952-13-4774-0

Finnish National Board of Educationwww.oph.fi /english

In cooperation with:

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY