About UH

UH is the oldest and largest HEI in Finland. It is among the best multidisciplinary research universities globally and it has about 35,000 students and more than 4,000 research and teaching staff. UH is organized into 11 faculties and 17 independent institutes. The Fac. of Agric. and Forestry is located at the Viikki campus, where research and teaching activities in tropical forestry are undertaken by Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI) under the Dept. of Forest Sciences. Since, 1980 VITRI has provided academic training and research on forests and related natural resources in tropical developing countries. VITRI staff also undertake national and international assignments related to tropical forest management, as well as environmental and forest policy.

VITRI conducts various forms of academic training, including regular BSc, MSc, and PhD degree courses, and participates in the International MSc Programme for the Dept. of Forest Sciences with a minor in tropical silviculture. VITRI also provides a yearly international Summer School and special training courses. VITRI’s academic training is focused on sustainable use and management of forests and natural resources in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Education and training cover the dry and humid tropics, natural and plantation forests, agroforestry systems, and management of forested tropical landscapes. The topics covered are approached from both ecological and socioeconomic angles. Since its beginning, VITRI has trained 100 MSc students and 40 Doctoral students.

VITRI has a wealth of experience in carrying out education programmes and projects with national and international partners to strengthen capacities of institutions in recipient countries, including the following projects:

Forestry Higher Education Advancement in Laos
Forestry Higher Education Cooperation between Laos and Finland
Forest Landscape Rehabilitation in the Mekong River Basin
Forest restoration and rehabilitation in Southeast Asia

For more info, visit the unviersity webpage.

FRAME involvment

UH will coordinate the proposed 3 year joint-project in collaboration with other EU partner the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU) and relevant faculties at 2 HEIs in Laos – Savannakhet University (SKU) & Souphanouvong University (SU)- and 2 HEIs in Thailand – Chiang Mai University (CMU) and Kasetsart University (KU). UH will work closely with CMU and SU leading WP1 (preparation) ; with all partner HEIs leading WP2 (Dissemination) ; and with KU and SKU leading WP5 (Management). These institutions will also provide general support and inputs for the other WPs. UH and partner HEIs will collaborate in the preparation of a MOOCs that will be share later with all Partner HEIs.

UH will have one senior representative sit on the Executive Management Committee (EMC) and the Academic Advisory Board (AAB), it will support 6 capacity building activities in Partner Countries and host up to 6 visiting staff as part of the project.