Degree Programme in Forestry (In Finnish)
Specialisations
The programme has no specialisations.
Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Natural Resources
Level of qualification
The degree programme leads to a higher education degree which is a first cycle
Bachelor-level degree in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). According to
the eight-level classification of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
the degree represents level 6.
Specific admission requirements
Please see the
Applicant's Guide or the website
www.seamk.fi/hakeminen.
Applicant's Guide's
instructions are written in Finnish for degree programmes taught in Finnish and
in English for degree programmes taught in English. On the website, application
and instructions are in Finnish language for the degree programmes taught in
Finnish.
Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Prior learning can be
recognized by a team consisting of the Head of the Degree Programme, the Student
Counsellor and a Lecturer of that specific course.
The final thesis and
maturity test are not included in the RPL process. Expiration of previously
acquired expertise is considered by the RPL team.
Qualification requirements and regulations
Please see
the
Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
Pedagogical approach
The constructivist theory of
learning emphasises the active role of the students and their personal
experieces in their education, which helps them to understand what is being
taught. The teacher acts as facilitator of the learning process.
Characteristics of learning:
1. Students set their own
learning objectives.
2. Students make a Personal
Study Plan.
3. The information to be
learned is connected to students’ world of experiences, work and living
environment.
4. Open communication
between the students and teacher is nurtured to deepen the understanding of the
information to be learned and to evaluate learning experiences.
5. The process of learning
is emphasised in the studies, not merely objectives and contents.
6. Together with the
teachers, students monitor and evaluate their own learning and the learning of
their peers. Learning is systematically developed based on feedback. The
feedback is discussed together with the students, and they lead the development
of the learning situations.
Teaching involves the use of
various topic-related, applied methods. The variety of teaching methods is used
in the programmes to support students’ professional development, readiness for
the working world and professional expertise. Students attend lectures, engage
in independent information acquisition, work in projects, work online, do
assignments and exercises in the forest and participate in co-operative
learning.
Profile
of the programme
The degree programme (240 cr) comprises Basic Studies (55 cr), Professional Studies (105 cr), Specialisation Studies (25 cr), elective courses (10 cr), practical training (30 cr) and a final thesis (15 cr). Each of these parts of the programme is divided into modules and courses. The recommended time to complete the programme is four years.
During their first and second years of the programme, students complete courses in the Common Basic Studies and Common Professional Studies, which include silviculture, business and leadership. They continue with the Common Professional Studies during the third and fourth years of the programme and advance their expertise with Specialisation Studies, which must amount to 25 credits of coursework. Students can choose more extensive study modules or individual courses pertaining to wood purchasing, silviculture, forest planning, bio-energy, business, or nature and rural travel, for example.
Field trips to the forest and various field-related companies are an essential part of the degree programme. The periods of practical training (30 cr), which students usually do in the summertime, provide them with experience from the working world. Students must also choose 15 credits of elective courses and do a final thesis (10 cr).
In addition to biology and technology, the core expertise of forest engineers includes entrepreneurship and the command of basic issues in finance. Skills in collaboration, communication and leadership are also important. The essential areas of expertise taught in the degree programme are silviculture, forest planning and skills in acquiring wood with consideration to environmental issues.
Occupational profiles
Forest engineers work in silviculture and logging, planning the use of forest and natural resources, as consultants and educators, and in marketing, sales and purchasing. Self-employment and the rapidly growing field of bio-energy, for example, also offer employment opportunities.
Access to
further studies
Students who have completed
this programme are eligible to continue on to a university of applied sciences'
master's degree programme in natural resources. (University of applied sciences
act 351/2003, in Finnish)
Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Please see
the
Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
Graduation requirements
Please see
the
Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
Mode of
study
Full-time studies. In adult
education studying is multiform (part-time).
Contact
persons
Head of degree programme:
Mr
Hannu Lassila, tel. +358 20 124 5808, e-mail: hannu.lassila(at)seamk.fi
ECTS/International coordinator:
Ms Pirkko Kivinen, tel.
+358 20 124 5807, e-mail: pirkko.kivinen(at)seamk.fi
Student
counsellor:
Mr Jorma Toopakka, tel. +358 20 124
5814, e-mail: jorma.toopakka(at)seamk.fi
