PROFESSIONAL PAGES: The Wood Products Processing Program at the University of British Columbia – Reflections on the Last Twenty-Five Years

Abstract

The Department of Wood Science at the University of British Columbia initiated its Wood Products Processing (WPP) program in September 1995. The program replaced a previous wood science-based program, which, like many programs across North America at the time, suffered from low enrollment levels. The new program introduced a greater focus toward manufacturing processes, their analysis and optimization, and aspects of business operations. This article describes the establishment of some of the essential components of the WPP program and their development over the last 25 yr. Enrollment, co-op program, and graduation data are presented. The transfer programs established with Chinese forestry universities, which have fueled recent WPP program growth, are detailed. Some areas where the program has met with less success are discussed, as are some recent developments of the program.