Challenges for the European higher education, with special reference to forestry

Abstract

The ongoing discussion about the future of the forestry education can be considered as a part of the present intensive discussion on the European Higher Education System. Both the Sorbonne and the Bologna declarations are calling for the harmonisation of the higher education systems in Europe. The reality, however, is that the existing structures show an extreme complexity and diversity of curricular and degree structures, due to major differences in several key factors. Forestry education in Europe reflects quite well the features of the Higher Education in Europe. Curricula strongly differ, forestry as a science has thoroughly evolved during the last decades, foresters are faced to new challenges and the labour market offers other opportunities. As a result, there is both the need for harmonisation and for increased mobility, meaning that there are several reasons for changing forestry curricula. Fundamental changes in the field of profession and didactic requirements are major reasons to revise the forestry curricula. The shift from developing mainly the professional qualifications of the students to a stronger emphasis on the formation of the personal qualifications are considered as the main general issue in the changes of the forestry curricula.