FTP Education & Training Group
Introduction
Just as the forest-based sector at large, education and training have to respond to major changes in society. This requires a re-thinking of the overall approach to education and training. There is a need to respond to the challenges in the business environment and society inside and beyond the borders of the forest-based sector. Moreover, Ph.D., M.Sc. and B.Sc. programmes need to be updated to meet the challenges facing the forest-based sector as outlined in the Vision Document and the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform (FTP). The number of skilled professionals and the skilled labour force need to be balanced. Finally, transdisciplinary knowledge and expertise will be required.
The FTP set up an Education and Training Group (ETG). A Pulp & Paper working group started its work during 2006, while other working groups followed in autumn 2007. The ETG aims to map and analyse the present situation within the European forest-based sector concerning education and training issues. The group will elaborate a European overview (including Russia) addressing all three levels of education and training, from primary (elementary schools) to tertiary level (higher education - universities). Time aspects like short-term education and training as well as life-long learning will be reflected in the group's work.
Vision
Skilled people and well functioning up-to-date education and training systems are key factors for the success of the European forest-based sector now and in future.
Organisation
The ETG has four working groups (click on the links for minutes and other information):
Action plan
- Mapping of the present situation in different countries, resulting in a compilation at the European level
- Identifying the needs for education and training in order to fulfill the objectives of FTP's SRA
- Identifying the competence requirements from stakeholders
- Elaborating a report on education and training needs within the FBS, dealing with basic education (long term) and further education & training (short term)
- Based on the above: developing ideas for campaigns to attract talent to the forest-based sector
Contact information
For further information, kindly contact FTP Project Management.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Education and Training Group will be on May 7, 2009, at the PTS premises in Munich (10.30-16.30 hrs). The agenda will include attention for the EU educational framework, the state-of-art of education and training for the various value chains, and a workplan for future activities.
