Study Guide

Description

Degree Programme in Forestry
Bachelor of Natural Resources
240 c.u., 4 years
Blended learning
Kuntokatu 3, 33520 Tampere
Head of the programme Ari Vanamo

The degree of the students graduating of the Forestry Degree Programme is Bachelor of Natural Resources. The programme consists of 240 credit points (ECTS) and lasts for 4 years.

Eligibility: see TAMK pages and eligibility for bachelor's degrees www.tamk.fi

Description of the profession and wroking-life placements

Forest engineer works as a planner, a specialist or a supervisor in different forestry organizations both in private and public sector. Some forest engineers are independent entrepreneurs. Typical tasks are timber purchase, organizing of harvesting and timber transport, managing of forest resources information and GIS data, planning and organizing of forestry activities and forest owners´ extension. Forest engineers can also work in the field of multiple forest use, forest nature management and nature conservation. Working in different projects is nowadays more a rule than an exception. Forest engineers are also employed by other than traditional forestry sector organizations.

Forest engineers work both alone and in little working groups. Interaction situations especially with forest owners are typical. Work is performed both in the office and in the forest.

In his job a forest engineer has to have enough know-how of forestry (such as forest ecology, silviculture, forest resources, GIS, wood supply) but also of business and he has to know how to get on with customers and other people.
Value basis of forestry programme.

Forest engineers are managing a renewable natural resource. At the same time they are working together with other people, enterprises and the whole society. Understanding sustainable development and the different aspects of it (ecological, economical and social) is central in the studies. Also important is respecting other people and their opinions. A forest engineer has to be honest and reliable in his duties.

Implementation of education

The courses have been developed on the basis of working life related situations, and they are usually large entities.
In blended learning students´ own role in searching information is important. However, the courses also include lectures, different kinds of exercises both in the classroom and in the forest as well as field trips and excursions. Also, a variety of virtual learning environments as well as forest machine simulator are used in teaching.

Learning outcomes

After the first study year the students have an overall picture of the forest, the forest nature and biodiversity, forest management and the use of wood. The students know how to plan and implement silvicultural activities and how to assess the quality of the work. They know how to measure single trees, tree stands and timber. They are also capable of using the university´s information systems, look for information from various sources and to draw up short reports.

During the second study year the main emphasis is on wood supply know-how. The students get an overall picture of timber harvesting and purchasing. Also, understanding the social significance of forests and the multi-objective use of forest starts to build up. After the second year, the students are able to make harvesting plans, as well as evaluate harvesting quality. They know how to use spatial data, GPS equipment and GIS programs. The students are able to communicate about forestry issues in Swedish language.

In the third study year students develop their communication and interpersonal interaction skills as well as business know-how. They get an overall picture of the forest owners, forestry extension and forestry enterprises. The students get skills to work in different kinds of projects. Towards the end of the third year, the students can deepen their know-how in certain forestry sub-areas, mainly wood supply and forest machines and multi-objective forestry. Alternatively they can study more about energy, logistics and entrepreneurship through the University´s common offering. After the third year, the students can communicate about forestry issues in English. Between the 3rd and 4th study year the students have time for on the job training. Part of the training can be realized after the 1st or 2nd year.
After the third study year the students are able to plan, realize and evaluate most forestry activities, organize forest owner events, advise forest owners, assist in supervisor tasks and work in projects.

During the fourth study year the earlier studies and the experiences of the training period are combined. The forestry know-how of the students gets deeper and expands towards developing and research know-how. After the fourth year the student is ready to enter the working life as a planner, specialist or even supervisor.

Curriculum development and working life cooperation

During the preparation of the curriculum the comments of the advisory board have been made use of. The advisory board consists of working life members. Also the alumni who have graduated earlier of this programme, have been interviewed.