🌳 Exciting News from the FORSU “Higher Education Cooperation for Forest Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Livelihoods in Bangladesh and Vietnam" Project 🌍 Last week, from June 10th to 14th, our Bangladeshi and Vietnamese project partners participated in a capacity-building and exchange week in Helsinki.
🌱 Throughout the week, we immersed ourselves in a series of enriching sessions with esteemed experts, focusing on pivotal areas to further enhance the curricula in both Vietnam and Bangladesh. Here’s a brief overview:
📚 Monday kicked off with insights from Professors Mike Starr and Eshetu Yirdaw on the vital roles of supervisors in shaping students' academic and early career paths, alongside discussions on the ethics of scientific writing, including the use of AI.
🔍 On Tuesday and Thursday, Professor Sergey Nesterov led an intensive course on Project Management and Leadership. We delved into effective communication techniques, project planning, budgeting, and managing costs and time — all essential skills for university staff and students.
🌐 On Wednesday, we were honored to host Emeritus Professor Markku Kanninen, who enlightened us on calculating carbon footprints and understanding the current state of climate change. We also had the pleasure of hosting Prof. Ir. Yonariza from Andalas University, who provided insights into deforestation and its implications for local communities, including ethnic minorities, their livelihoods, and well-being in Indonesia, opening opportunities for further North-South-South cooperation.
In the afternoon, VITRI's GIS expert and PhD student, Johanness Jamaludin, delivered a lecture and practical training on GIS, mapping, and calculating land use changes using satellite imagery.
🕶️ On Friday, we had the pleasure of being introduced to innovative educational technologies by Ulla Hemminki-Reijonen from the University of Helsinki's MOOC Center. We explored cutting-edge applications of virtual reality and AI in teaching.
🎓 The insights gained during last week are instrumental in updating and expanding the interdisciplinary curricula in Bangladesh and Vietnam’s higher education institutions. By aligning our courses more closely with regional needs and innovative teaching methods, we are not just improving academic offerings but also enhancing the employability of the graduates through practical, market-relevant skills.
🤝 Through fostering North-South-South cooperation, last week has strengthened our resolve and capability to bring meaningful, sustainable change.
🌲 Stay tuned as we continue to cultivate strategic partnerships and empower the next generation of leaders in forest landscape restoration and sustainable livelihoods. Feel free to explore our FORSU website to learn more about our impactful initiatives.
Higher Education Cooperation for Forest Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Livelihoods in Bangladesh and Vietnam (FORSU)
