South Africa
2. Tshwane University of Technology
3. Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute
Europe
6. Häme University of Applied Sciences, Finland (coordinator)
7. Aalto University, Finland
Introduction of the Partner HEIs
The Department of Forestry was established in 1998, with the first batch of students being registered in 1999. The Department, initially, was offering Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Forestry Specialization) programme. However, in 2019, the Department secured a full accreditation and now offers Bachelor of Science in Forestry, with the first batch of students being registered in 2020. The new programme aims at developing forest scientists who will be competent in sustainable management of forest resources, environmental conservation, forest operations, and entrepreneurial skills. The Bachelor of Science in Forestry is a four year programme (AGBBFR) that covers a broad range of modules in Forestry, which include Ecology, Silviculture, Resources Assessments, Management, Health and Protection, Valuation and Investments, GIS & Spatial Analysis, Wood Processing & Utilization, Community Forestry and a six month Work Integrated Learning. Our graduates are globally relevant and leaders in their chosen careers.
Tshwane University of Technology
The Tshwane University of Technology is the largest residential higher education institution in South Africa, with an annual enrollment figure of 60,000. Within TUT, The Faculty of Science is the leading research faculty, making a substantial contribution every year to the total research output of the country. In the field of agricultural sciences, The Department of Crop Sciences boasts one of the largest training facilities of its kind in South Africa as well as fully equipped Skills Centres. Apart from one of the few higher education institutions in the country to offer the full range of agricultural courses, the department will be offering a Higher Certificate in Forestry Management from 2022.
Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute
The Fort Cox forestry department is one of the two academic departments in the Fort Cox College of Agriculture and Forestry. The department offers a dynamic, academic three-year general forestry diploma programme at NQF level 6. The programme is accredited and recognised by the Council on Higher education.The main aim of the college is to continue producing high-quality graduates who are responsive to the current challenges facing the forestry industry. Considering the afforestation programme approved for the Eastern Cape Province, the forestry department has a major role to play to capacitate future foresters who will sustain the afforestation programme. The dedicated partnership with private companies in the industry provides an integral opportunity of exposure to current and prospective students to attain various technical experiences in forest management.
The Nelson Mandela University’s School of Natural Resource Management, situated in George, is one of four schools in the Faculty of Science. The George Campus provides forestry training that promotes the goals and philosophies of the South African forest industry. The career-focused programmes in forestry and wood technology are driven by industry’s needs and standards. There is a strong focus on practical application, and the skills of George Campus students are sought after locally and internationally. A new offering in Veldfire Management (Higher Certificate) complements the diploma and degree qualifications in Forestry and Wood Technology.
Stellenbosch University is the only university in South Africa offering a comprehensive four-year BSc degree programme in both Forest Science and Wood Product Science, thus covering the entire forestry value chain. The presence of these two major disciplines under one roof enables the Department of Forest and Wood Science to address the full forestry value chain, from forest establishment and silviculture, forest management, timber harvesting and transport, and forest economics to secondary processing for composite materials, bio-energy and other value-added products.
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Forestry education at HAMK roots back to 1862 at the Evo campus, which was the first forest school in Finland. The campus is still situated in a same scenic and original location in Southern Finland some 150 km north from Helsinki. The campus is surrounded by a training forest (1 800 hectars), enabling diverse opportunities for teaching and RD activities. Nowadays, there are around 300 forestry students and 25 staff members. The Evo Campus hosts both HAMK, educating forest engineers (BSc), and vocational institute HAMI, training forest workers. The main subjects include silviculture, forest mensuration, remote sensing and timber procurement. The teaching is organised in close cooperation with forestry employers.
Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. By merging three leading Finnish universities in 2010, Aalto was founded to work as a societally embedded research university. Aalto focuses on building a sustainable future by creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Aalto Global Impact is the unit that develops Aalto University’s research and educational outreach for societal impact in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It does so by fostering international collaboration and projects together with Aalto schools, faculty and education programmes.
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
The forest management programme at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences is one of the two educational offers that are available in Norway. The study programme is offered at campus Evenstad, a unique place located about 170 km north for Oslo. The place enhances learning activities by the best location in the middle of boreal forests of Norway and closeness to the Norwegian forest industry. The forestry education at Evenstad was started in 1912. Sustainable use and management of natural resources are not any longer of national, but of cross-boundary concern. Regarding global impacts such as climate change, this study programme will help future foresters to widen their horizon and to improve their understanding of forest management in terms of natural hazards and practical adaptation. The study programme covers major topics, such as forest ecology, silviculture, forest economics, forest roads engineering and GIS. These are often developed in close cooperation with forest industry, and the research environment at campus Evenstad.