Consultation Panel: Associated Partners

The Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT) is a public university located in Tirana, Albania. It was initially established in 1951 as “High Institute of Agriculture”, and received its current name in 1991. AUT is one of Albania's top specialized universities with an academic staff of approximately 480 members that provide education to over 14,000 students across all levels of study.

Today it is the unique centre in Albania for undergraduate and graduate studies, scientific research and training in the area of agriculture and food (Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Protection, Agribusiness, Economy and Agrarian Policy, Environment and Natural Resources, Agro-food Technology, Animal Husbandry and Business, Aquaculture and Fishery Management, Forestry Engineering, Veterinary Medicine, etc).

More information: http://ubt.edu.al/en

Bursa Technical University, Faculty of Forestry has three departments: forest engineering, forest industrial engineering and landscape architecture.

In Bursa, the percentage of forest cover is very high and this is a great opportunity for students as it is an open lab. for them. Bursa has got a famous National Park in Turkey called Uludağ Mountains with twenty seven thousand hectars and also a floodplain forest with about four thousand hectars.

With the town of İnegöl, located 20 minutes away from Bursa and its widely developed furniture production, students from the Department of Forest Industrial Engineering can benefit from many internship opportunities nearby.

Our faculty offers education at master and PhD level. The department of forest engineering offers masters and PhDs either in Turkish or in English, while the department of forest industrial engineering offers masters and PhDs in Turkish. The department of landscape architecture only offers masters in Turkish.

You can find more information about our faculty on our website in English.

“Cesefor is a research center currently working with a technical team with an extensive and varied training. Our individual and collective experiences have enabled us to build a great multidisciplinary team.

The current economic scenario reinforces our mission to contribute to the sustainable development of forestry and industry that transforms forest resources, with an eye on job creation, added value and utilization, protection and promotion of natural resources.

Our objectives are to:

• Improve the management and use of forest resources;
• Improve the competitiveness and development of our industry.
• Increase the degree of sustainable industrialization of our forest products.
• Be the center of services that support forestry and its industry in order to analyze and implement measures that contribute to its development.
• Promote the creation of quality jobs in rural areas.”

“Founded in 1962, the CIHEAM is a Mediterranean intergovernmental organisation devoted to the sustainable development of agriculture and fisheries, food and nutrition security and rural and coastal areas. The institute of CIHEAM, CHANIA pursues its three main complementary missions through:

• post-graduate specialized education
• networked research
• facilitation of regional debate”

Oregon State University is a preeminent research university, designated as "R1" for its exceptionally high research activity. Founded in 1868, the university is a global leader in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics by using progressive technology to develop research to change the way the world works. Notably, OSU is among only two universities in the United States to hold Land-, Sea-, Space-, and Sun-Grant designations. Major tech companies call Oregon the “Silicon Forest” as the state blends natural beauty and innovative technology hubs.

The College of Forestry enjoys the distinction of being the #1 ranked forestry institution in the United States. The college combines scientific knowledge and Traditional Ecological Knowledge to inform policy and business decisions across the forest landscape. Students and researchers have access to ten college research forests of more than 15,00 acres for learning and research activities. Our students number over 1,200 and make up six undergraduate programs (Forestry, Forest Engineering, Forest Engineering/Civil Engineering, Natural Resources, Wood Innovation for Sustainability, and Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership) and four graduate degrees (Forest Ecosystems and Society, Master of Natural Resources, Sustainable Forest Management, and Wood Science).

“CSIRO is Australia's national science organisation and one of the largest and most diverse scientific research organisations in the world. Research focuses on the biggest challenges facing the nation. CSIRO also manages national research infrastructure and collections.”

Check their website here.” 

“The Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), based in Solsona (Lleida), was initially founded by the County Council of Solsonès and the University of Lleida. The mission of CTFC is to contribute to the modernization and competitiveness of the forest sector, to promote rural development and to foster the sustainable management of the environment through excellence in research and transfer of knowledge and technology to society, with the final aim of becoming a reference center at the national and international level.”

The University of Minnesota is a public land-grant research university located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in Minneapolis in 1851 and achieved land grant status in 1867. The University of Minnesota System is organized into 19 colleges and schools across five campuses as well as six university-wide interdisciplinary centers and institutes. It is among the nation's top public research universities offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. It offers 150 undergraduate degree programs and 307 graduate degree programs.

Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, formerly Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, is an agricultural university at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was established in 1972 as Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, and got its present name in 2001 in memory of third Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri. P. K. Sawant.

In the main campus of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth the College of Forestry offers the B. Sc. Forestry Degree, a four-year degree course. There are only two forestry colleges in Maharashtra State, one in Dapoli and another located at Akola, the College of Forestry, Akola. (Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapith, Akola, Maharashtra, India).

More information: https://www.dbskkv.org/

“ECM Environmental Engineering  is a Technology Based Company focused on the sustainable management of mycological resources. ECM is a small medium enterprise leader in the promotion of this non wood forest product, that plays an important role (social and economic) in rural forest areas.

ECM Environment Engineering projects are focused in 4 main areas:

Mycology: Management of mycological resources, sustainable use of wild edible mushroom resources in forest ecosystems, training and knowledge courses to consider fungi resource as alternative in rural development.

Integral forestry management of forest stands: Boosting the creation of NEW FORESTS projects, in connection with productivity of wood and non-wood Forest products in a whole way.

Environmental engineering: Development of studies and projects that promote environmental sustainability.

R+D+i: Development of research projects for sustainable management of forest resources. The main R+D+i activities are focused on mycological productivity, new mycorrhization techniques for nursery plants, fungi cultivation, marketing and healthy uses of fungi, biological stump degradation techniques, CO2 fixation in forest ecosystems and the quantification of mitigation and adaptation processes in forest ecosystems.”

Check their website here.

“The Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI) is an autonomous federal research institute established with the following four main objectives: 

1. Identify, import, adapt, utilize and generate technologies that significantly contribute to forest development and environmental protection focusing on the priorities of the country and demand of users.
2. Coordinate the environment and forest research activities carried out by environment and forest research centers or higher learning institutes and other related facilities conducting research on the basis of contract.
3. Build capacity and establish a system that enables the environment and forest research activities to be efficient, effective and development-oriented.
4. Disseminate the environment and forest research outputs to users.”

“The European Forest Institute is an international organisation, established by European States, with 29 European States members.

EFI facilitates and stimulates forest-related networking and promotes the dissemination of unbiased and policy-relevant information on forests and forestry. It also advocates for forest research and for the use of scientifically sound information as a basis for forest policies.

The Mediterranean, with its distinctive ecological and social characteristics, has untapped potential to contribute to the leading role played by the forest sector in the global bioeconomy. Thematic research and networking at EFI’s Mediterranean Facility (EFIMED) focuses on creating sustainable value from Mediterranean forested landscapes.”

“The National School of Forest Engineers has as its mission:

1. the preparation of Forest Engineers;
2. create expertise and continues training;
3. the development of research work with a wide application in forestry strategies and implementation of projects in mountain areas.”

“Etifor is a spin-off company at the University of Padova that provides international consulting services to help organizations grasp the full value of the products and services provided by

forests and other natural resources. Etifor’s team improves the economic, environmental and social benefits of policies, projects and investments through applied science, proactive innovation and good governance and works with national and international clients such as Private companies; Public administration and organizations; and NGO and no-profit organizations.

Etifor operates in the following main areas:

• Responsible management - applying policy and market solutions for the sustainable management of ecosystem products and services;
• Sustainable investments - connecting impact investors to innovative nature-based projects and start-ups;
• Local development - linking natural beauty and cultural landscapes using participatory and good governance approaches.”

Check their website here.”

“The European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) aims at promoting the use of trees on farms as well as any kind of silvopastoralism throughout the different environmental regions of Europe. EURAF has about 280 members from 20 different European countries.

EURAF’s aim to promote the adoption of agroforestry practices across Europe by:

• Any communication means, including lobbying for agroforestry adapted policies at the European scale.
• Organizing a bi-annual conference.
• Sending an electronic newsletter to all members.
• Managing a dedicated website, with functionalities to share information, scientific results and policy issues on agroforestry.
• Achieving specific agreements with national and international agroforestry societies or other related societies for the exchange of information and the organization of joint congresses, symposiums and seminars.
• Meeting monthly to delineate actions to target awareness of agroforestry systems mainly at policy level.”
• Promoting events and participate in research projects providing networking throughout Europe.”

Check their website here.

FBS is a spin-off from CTFC - Forest Technology Center of Catalonia, Spain.

FBS performs analysis services, laboratory essays and expertise assessment linked to the technical and scientific activity of the CTFC. The company is mainly focused in six knowledge sectors:

• Agroforest biofuel services and forest exploitations- Biofuel Laboratory
• Soil and fertilisation services
• Wood materials and structure inspection and diagnosis
• Advanced technology services regarding the wood sector
• Truffle farming services. Methods to evaluate the plant quality and the state of the mycorrhize of Quercus Ilex trees inoculated with Tuber melanosporum
• Integral Management Services of forestry plantations and reforestation (lush blossoms).
• Laboratory services CTFC – INCAFUST.

Check their website here.

“The URFM- INRA conducts a multidisciplinary research project whose general objective is to understand and predict the dynamics, functioning and evolution of Mediterranean forests, in order to assess risks and provide a set of management strategies for forest adaptation in a context of disruption and global change.

The management tools developed for forest adaptation need to be grounded on a strong knowledge of the ecological and evaluative adaptation processes. To move towards a more predictive adaptation ecology, in a context of significant change of disturbance regimes, the URFM fosters an approach to modeling physical and biological processes, relying on numerical simulation and experimentation.”

The mission of the National Institute of Rural engineering research, Water and Forests is:

• Contribute to the development of the national research policy in the areas of Water, Forests and Rural Engineering.
• Organize and implement all scientific research in relation to the above fields.
• Participate in the protection, conservation and rationalization of the exploitation of natural resources and rural areas.
• Develop the results of its research and its scientific know-how.
• Participate in the development of scientific and technological research and its integration into the economic and social fields.
• Undertake any research or experimentation or expertise to the identification, analysis, selection, adaptation and mastery of technology in different fields of agricultural engineering, water and forests.
• Undertake searches to ascertain, monitor and analyze the evolution of technology in areas affecting the national economy.
• Contribute to the training of doctoral students in the programs of the institute.
• Organize scientific events to allow the assimilation and mastery of technologies used.
• Promote partnership in the field of scientific research and technological development, with institutions of higher education and research as well as institutions and public or private firms or through international cooperation.
• Participating in the activity of expertise and service the eve of the economy in the rural areas of engineering, water and forests.

Institute for Forestry and Conservation at University of Toronto is working to advance the practice of forest management in Canada and worldwide by producing skilled and educated foresters and
environmental managers who have the desire to manage forests and forested landscapes for the benefit of both society and the natural environment.

For more details: https://academic.daniels.utoronto.ca/forestry/about-us/

"ISCI is a scientific research center created in 2008. It is partially funded by the Ministry for Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation and is comprised of fifty-one researchers from different universities and sixteen administrative staff members.
The main activities of the center are scientific research, graduate education, capacity building of young researchers, international workshops and research networks, innovative applied projects with the public and private sectors, and outreach activities for the general public, school students and teachers.
ISCI’s mission is to cover the continuum from methodological research in disciplines such as Optimization, Operations Research, Data Science, Statistics, Economics, and Decision Sciences to impact areas that include Natural Resources, Energy Markets, Healthcare, Cities, Industry, and Public Policies, developing projects of high impact."

Check their website here.

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) is the official afforestation administration in Israel, and the acting Forest Service, pursuant to a covenant signed with Government of Israel in 1961. KKL-JNF afforestation and reforestation policy is designed to supply ecosystem services and to serve all of Israel's citizens today and in the future, based on the principles of sustainable development. KKL-JNF has gained extensive knowledge and experience and operates in a wide range of areas including, among others: semi-arid, arid land and Mediterranean forestry, rehabilitation of degraded areas, combating desertification, land reclamation, soil conservation, water harvesting and management, education, community development, recreation and research and development.

Lakehead University (shortened to 'Lakehead U') is a public research university with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ontario, Canada. It has undergraduate programs, graduate programs, the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, the only internationally accredited (AACSB) business school in northern Ontario, and is home to the western campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead has more than 45,000 alumni. The main campus in Thunder Bay has about 7,900 students, and the campus in Orillia has about 1,400 students.

The University has nine faculties: Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Natural Resources Management, Health and Behavioral Sciences, Science and Environmental Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, Medicine, Law and Graduate Studies. The primary objective of the Faculty of Natural Resources Management is to advance the practice of natural resources management in Canada by producing skilled and educated foresters and environmental managers who have the desire to manage forests and forested landscapes for the benefit of both society and the natural environment.

More information:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/programs/departments/nrm

Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology was established on August 3,2022 with the vision to be world-class research-oriented institution. It seeks to drive economic development through new technologies and build foundational capacities supporting Nepal's key sectors, including science, engineering, forestry and agriculture.

“Faculty within the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences conduct research on Pennsylvania’s forests, wildlife and fisheries, soils, and watersheds. Our research scientists work together in an inter-disciplinary approach to create new knowledge and provide students with a scientific foundation for professional careers managing these natural resources."

Check their website here.

The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) and its Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH) at Bethlehem University are national institutions that work to research, educate about, and conserve our natural world, culture and heritage. We use this knowledge to promote responsible human interactions with our environment. 

The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC Chile; Spanish: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) is a traditional private university based in Santiago, Chile. It is one of the thirteen Catholic universities existing in Chilean university system and one of the two pontifical universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. Founded in 1888, it is one of Chile's oldest universities.

UC Chile has four campuses in Santiago and one campus in Villarrica. It is renowned for its strong research capabilities and comprehensive academic programs. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees in a wide range of disciplines. UC also offers a number of student exchange programs, allowing students to gain valuable experience in a different culture and education system. UC strives to provide an international and diverse learning environment, helping students become well-rounded and well-educated members of society.

More information: https://www.uc.cl/en

PROINPA Foundation is a science and technology organization, in Bolivia, that works in the generation and dissemination of technology to promote agricultural innovation, meeting the demands of farmers with limited resources. It generates positive impacts on families of producers, micro-enterprises and agricultural companies through technological innovation. With the ability to adapt and identify opportunities in environment changes, it is recognized in Bolivia and abroad for its efficiency, its contribution and commitment to agricultural development

PROINPA's mission is to promote innovation in families of entrepreneurial producers, microenterprises and agricultural companies through the development of technology for the agroecological management of crops, the management and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity, the development of impact-oriented inclusive agrobusinesses and the provision of services, production and marketing of fresh Andean products and derivatives

More info: http://www.proinpa.org/

“The Slovenian Forestry Institute is a public research institute of national importance, which conducts basic and applied research on forests and forest landscapes, forest ecosystems, wildlife ecology, hunting, forest management, and other uses of the resources and services forests provide. The scientific knowledge from these fields helps further the research on forest biodiversity and its management in relation to climate change. 
As part of its research programme and related studies, the Institute also provides forestry and environmental services in the public interest. 
Another of the Institute’s functions is to provide scientific knowledge on all aspects of sustainable development, with the purpose of increasing knowledge and awareness of the importance of forests within the environment and the importance of forest management. In short, the Institute is a scientific, professional, and cultural storehouse for Slovenia’s relationship with its forests and the resources and services they provide.”

Simbioa makes the Sustainable Development Goals a reality by creating and supporting initiatives that pursue real impact. It takes local, national or European initiatives further, accompanying the process and shaping ideas together. Simbioa creates synergies and connections between initiatives, always seeking mutual benefit: a true symbiosis.

The founder of Simbioa is Julia Ramsauer, a MEDfOR alumni (6th edition of the MEDfOR programme), and this is her story: “I have been studying and working in the field of bioeconomy, sustainable development and the protection of biodiversity for 10 years, carrying out communication actions in several countries. Although it is key to the success of projects, it became clear to me that the power of well-done comprehensive communication is very neglected. To leverage my skills and on a mission to create sustainable impact, I founded Simbioa within the framework of the URBAN FOREST INNOVATION LAB (UFIL)."

More information: www.simbioa.com

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, in North Macedonia, is the first state University in the Republic of North Macedonia, founded in 1949, initially with three faculties. At the moment, the University represents a functional community of 23 faculties, 5 research institutes, 4 public scientific institutions - associate members, 1 associate member - other higher education institution and 7 associate members - other organizations. Its activities are stipulated by the Law on Higher Education and the Statute of the University.

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University develops study programmes in all scientific fields – natural sciences and mathematics, technical and technological sciences, medical sciences and health, biotechnical sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts. Except for the faculties, the research work, also is carried out in the independent research institutes as an integral part of the University.

The University has produced around 134,600 graduated high-professional staff (with obtained Bachelor degree); 13,800 candidates obtained Master’s and Specialist's degree and around 4,000 candidates obtained the doctoral degree in all teaching and scientific fields.

More information: www.sf.ukim.edu.mk/en/

"The Department of Forest and Wood Science of the Faculty of AgroScience is perceived as the leading forestry institution in forestry education and research in Africa. It is situated at Stellenbosch University, which ranks amongst the best ranked African Universities. The University with 30 000 students is a research driven university with a strong teaching component. It is the only tertiary institution in South Africa that offers a full forestry program from the BSc up to the PhD level. Through its pivotal role the Department has a deep outreach into Africa, with long established collaborations in many African countries. The Department is also involved in several COST actions and has long standing research partnerships with several European Universities.
The Department of Forest and Wood Science is situated in the Western Cape, which is the only Mediterranean region on the African continent south of the Sahara and that shares not only climatic but also several forestry specific issues with the European Mediterranean countries. To name some fire vulnerability and management of forests, drought stress, rural interaction of agriculture and forestry, plantation forestry and sustainable land-use concepts are common interests of research.
Research wise the full forest–wood value chain is covered by the Department with climate change, precision forestry, sustainable land-use management, bio-energy and wood quality along the value chain as overarching research focus areas."

Check their website here.”

“TERRASYSTEM was created in 2004 thanks to the idea of some PhDs and young researchers of the University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy) and the CNR IBIMET of Florence (National Research Council, Institute of Biometeorology), with the aim of valorising years of experience in the field of geomatics. In 2010 TERRASYSTEM became a spin-off company of the University of Tuscia.

TERRASYSTEM is well rooted in the field of national and international research, and collaborates steadily with Universities and Research Institutes in the development of aerial data capture systems and techniques of data processing. The TERRASYSTEM staff are highly specialised in geomatics, and have all the required skills for research applications as well as specific experience in the fields of environmental monitoring, agriculture, forestry and engineering.“

Check their website here.

The Department of Industrial Engineering was founded in 1965 and it is part of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Faculty of University of Chile, the biggest and most important centre of engineering and science of the country. It dictates programs of quality to post-degree level and courses in the areas of management and applied economy. In this centre high level investigations are carried out, which contribute to the improvement of the country's companies and institutions. DII has developed optimisation models for forest management that has worldwide recognition.

The main research of the Department of Industrial Engineering is divided in 3 areas: Economics in the Applied Economics Centre (CEA), the Management Centre (CEGES) and the Operations Management Centre (CGO). The systemic knowledge resulting of the research carried out in the DII is being applied in fields such as transportation, public policies, modernisation of the State, environment, education and leadership skills, among others.

More information: https://ingenieria.uchile.cl/english/departments/industrial-engineering

Founded in 1972, TÉLUQ is the only french-language university in North America offering all its courses via distance education. Every year, nearly 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students obtain their university education from TÉLUQ.

All of Université TÉLUQ’s 430 courses and 125 programs are offered through distance learning. Their content is designed by professors who are experts in their field in collaboration with education technology and media production specialists. All the pedagogical methods and tools − online course environments, learning approach, personalized support, digital and printed materials − are intended to promote accessibility to quality education as well as facilitate student success.

Université TÉLUQ is unique because it is modelled exclusively on distance education approach. Hence, one of its stronger fields of research is influenced by this special characteristic and has made Université TÉLUQ one of the leader in distance education research worldwide.

More information: https://www.teluq.ca/site/en/

“Founded in 1986, Université Mustapha Stambouli de Mascara (University of Mascara) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in Mascara. The Université Mustapha Stambouli de Mascara (UM) is a coeducational higher education institution. It offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.”

“UC is the only university in New Zealand to offer professional forestry degree programmes, including undergraduate programmes run through the School of Forestry and the College of Engineering. Our first-class facilities include teaching and research spaces and the Wood Technology precinct, which contains a timber drying and preservation unit, a pulp and paper room, and a general workshop.

There are many plantation and native forest areas, both publicly and privately owned, used for teaching and research within convenient range of the University.  Field trips to Canterbury's indigenous and exotic forests are integral to our teaching and we have strong relationships with local forest organisations and their valuable staff. Students also travel to Hanmer Springs; the West Coast; the Nelson region; and the central North Island on extended field trips. Students regularly visit several wood processing industries in Canterbury with which we maintain regular contact.”

Check their website here.”  

Located in the historic town of Gondar, Ethiopia, the University of Gondar is one of the oldest and most well established higher education institutions in the country. This University was established in 1954 as a Public Health College and Training Center (PHC & TC) in joint effort between the Imperial Ethiopian government, WHO, United States Operation Mission to Ethiopia, and UNICEF.

The University of Gondar has a steady commitment to quality education, focused research and relevant community services. Their mission is to contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the country by providing vibrant, compassionate and responsible citizens through social needs tailored curricula; conducting problem solving research; and strengthening community engagement, and technology transfer.

More information: https://www.uog.edu.et/

The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF) at the University of Maine was founded in 2006 to build on a rich history of leading forest research and to enhance our understanding of Maine’s forest resources in an increasingly complex world. Forest research and its application are rapidly evolving due to unprecedented availability of data provided by emerging technologies such as high-resolution digital imagery and GPS. As the CRSF looks to the future, they hope to lead the development, integration, and application of these emerging technologies to address current and future issues in natural resources.

Their mission is to conduct and promote leading interdisciplinary research on issues affecting the management and sustainability of northern forest ecosystems and Maine’s forest-based economy.

More information: https://crsf.umaine.edu/

Established in 1785, the University of New Brunswick (UNB) is Canada’s oldest English-language university. It is a public university with two main campuses located in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. UNB also has satellite campuses and programs in other parts of Canada and around the world.

The university offers a diverse range of courses across various disciplines, including arts, business administration, computer science, engineering, health sciences, and more. Students can choose from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs tailored to meet their academic and career aspirations.The university enrolls nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, including students from more than 100 countries.

UNB has more than 75 undergraduate and graduate programs. The Fredericton campus is home to 11 academic faculties, including Canada’s first engineering, computer science and accelerated leadership programs. The UNB Saint John campus houses three faculties, offering unique programming including one of Canada’s only marine biology programs.

More info: https://www.unb.ca/

The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad, in Serbia, is an institution of higher education and scientific research whose mission is to stimulate high-quality educational processes, development of scientific disciplines and dissemination of knowledge gained in economy and society. Since its establishment in 1954, the Faculty of Agriculture has been dedicated to the accomplishment of its mission, based on successful results of its scientific research activities and their application in practice. Throughout the years, based on the observed needs of economic environment and current needs of society, the Faculty has developed study programs preparing students for the existing and pending technical-technological, and socio-economic systems. At the same time, it has developed its own competent human and technical resources.

The Faculty of Agriculture carries out its mission in three interrelated groups of activity: higher education, scientific research, and knowledge application on the field of economy. Simultaneously, it constantly enhances its educational programs, quality of working processes, as well as human and material resources, aiming at the achievement of the highest standards. Thus, the Faculty of Agriculture fulfills educational needs of young generations, scientific and expert needs of economy, and material needs of its employees. Moreover, as part of the comprehensive educational and scientific system, it is a driving force of social development and the initial force behind the development of agriculture.

More information: http://polj.uns.ac.rs/en

The University of the Aegean (Greek: Πανεπιστήμιο Αιγαίου), like all universities in Greece, is a public university. It was founded in 1984, and has its headquarters and administration in Mytilene, the capital of Lesvos island. It is a multi-insular entity with units/Schools and Departments located on six islands spread across the Aegean Archipelago (Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, Syros and Lemnos), and thus has a unique natural, cultural and human environment to experience.

The University comprises six Schools and 18 Departments offering undergraduate and post-graduate degrees programmes, with more than 100 research laboratories and research groups in every campus-island. Created with the aim of introducing new approaches to higher education through interdisciplinary subject areas to fit the needs of the contemporary world, many of the courses cover new scientific domains, with names such as Communication Systems, Cultural Informatics, Education Design, and Mediterranean Studies. Postgraduate programmes, aimed at an international level, fall under such subject areas as European Integration, Biodiversity, and Environmental Policy and Management.

The University of the Aegean has managed to convert features considered by many as “disadvantages”, i.e. insularity and multi-division, into a good practice for decentralized operation, through the use of digital informatics and communications, extensive high speed networks. The digital connectivity in island campuses offers high quality research and also e-learning and e-governance activities, which ensures cost savings due to the decrease of transportation, the balanced management and development of all University Units of the Institution.

More information: https://www.aegean.edu/

“The School of Environmental and Forest Sciences was established in 1907 as one of the oldest units on the University of Washington campus—and one of the original natural resource programs in the country.

Environmental and Forest Sciences is dedicated to generating and disseminating knowledge for the stewardship of natural and managed environments and the sustainable use of their products and services through teaching, research and outreach. Our vision is to provide world-class, internationally-recognized knowledge and leadership for environmental and natural resource issues."

Check their website here.

“The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station is a leader in the scientific study of natural resources. We generate and communicate impartial knowledge to help people understand and make informed choices about natural resource management and sustainability. The Station has 11 laboratories and research centers in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington as well as 12 active experimental forests, ranges, and watersheds.

The PNW Research Station is an integral component of USDA Forest Service Research and Development (R&D), which is the most extensive natural resources research organization in the world. Forest Service R&D is comprised of five regional research stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry.”

Check their website here.

“Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (Esalq/USP) is located at the Luiz de Queiroz Campus in the city of Piracicaba, and is currently considered a Center of Excellence for Undergraduate and Graduate programs in Agricultural, Environmental, Biological and Applied Social Sciences. It is part of the University of São Paulo.

The University of São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian public university and the country's most prestigious educational institution, the best university in Ibero-America, and holds a high reputation among world universities, being ranked 100 worldwide in reputation by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. USP is involved in teaching, research and university extension in all areas of knowledge, offering a broad range of courses.”

Check their website here.

“The Vietnam National University of Forestry was established on 19 August, 1964 according to Decision No.127/CP dated 19/08/1964 of the Government Council on basis of separation of Faculty of Forestry Sciences and Mechanized group of forest exploitation of Hanoi University of Agriculture (now Vietnam National University of Agriculture)

Their goal is to being the leading university in the forestry sector, training highly qualified labor force to meet the development demand of Forestry and Rural Development.”