HAMK Strengthens Sustainable Forestry Education and Entrepreneurship in Zambia and Tanzania
The forestry sector is an important livelihood in Zambia and Tanzania, but the sustainable use and management of forests still needs to be promoted. Integrating climate-smart practices, sustainable development, and a work-life-oriented approach into forestry education plays a key role as these countries improve their capacity to adapt to climate change and strengthen economic growth. Climate-smart education and collaboration with industries create more jobs in the forestry sector and support local livelihoods in a sustainable manner.
Through the upcoming SUSFOR project, we aim to address the challenges of the forestry sector by integrating sustainable development and greener practices into forestry education. Together with our partners, we are developing vocational forestry training to meet the environmental and economic sustainability challenges of today. At the same time, we are strengthening the collaboration between educational institutions and companies.
The goal of the SUSFOR project is to ensure that forestry training materials and curricula in Zambia and Tanzania meet the needs of the industry. The project will enhance the skills of forestry educators in student-centered teaching methods. We support institutions in providing useful, inclusive, and practical education and learning materials to improve students’ core competencies in forestry. The aim is to strengthen the quality of vocational education in the forestry sector, deepen cooperation between institutions and businesses, and improve the employment opportunities of young people in Zambia and Tanzania. This way, students are better equipped for both employment and self-employment.
During the project, Zambian and Tanzanian students will participate in webinars aimed at developing their forestry and work-life skills. These webinars will feature guest speakers who are professionals in the forest industry.
SUSFOR will also establish collaboration forums between employers and educational institutions, where stakeholders can engage in dialogue and foster partnerships. The goal is to ensure that this dialogue continues even after the project ends.
The SUSFOR project is being implemented in cooperation with Zambia Forestry College in Zambia, and Forestry Training College and Forestry Industry Training Institute in Tanzania. These are the only forestry education institutions in their respective countries. From Finland, the project is led by HAMK (Häme University of Applied Sciences), and from Estonia, the project partner is Luua Forestry School, in collaboration with Häme Vocational Institute.
SUSFOR is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme.
Overview
Name: Sustainable Forestry education development and capacity building in Tanzania and Zambia (SUSFOR)
Funding: European Union (Erasmus+ CBHE)
Duration: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2027
Budget: 517 393 €
Partners: Häme University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Forest Industries Training Institute (Tanzania), Forestry Training Institute (Tanzania), Zambia Forestry College (Zambia), Luua Metsanduskool (Estonia)
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