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About IFEM
Approach of the University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde
Features and structure of the study programme
Contents and learning objectives
Uniqueness and job opportunities
Aim of the study programme
The aim of the study programme is the education of ecosystem managers, who understand the forests of the world as ecosystems and are qualified to conserve and use the forests according to the principles of sustainable forestry (ecosystem approach).
Fundamentals
The forests of our world are of fundamental importance for the stability and functioning of our global ecosystems, and thus, for the living conditions of our society. Within the context of sustainable global development, it is our duty to conserve the forests of the world for future generations and to sustainably manage their diverse ecological, economic, and social functions.
The past two decades have given rise to a wide variety of occupational areas within international forestry. As a result, job-specifications have changed considerably: the occupational image of the forest engineer who is mostly interested in economic sustainability, has given way to that of the holistic ecosystem manager who is able to integrate forest conservation and cultivation into a comprehensive land use programme. In addition, ecosystem managers have to be able to realise both these goals, and plan in conjunction with a variety of land-users and other stakeholders. Of further significance is a good working knowledge of the various political agreements and mechanisms that aim for the conservation of the different forest functions.
The concept of ecosystem management was founded in the 1980s and by the early 1990s was not only established as a usable management tool, but was also adopted as an official land use programme: the first authority to do so was (e.g. USDA Forestry Service). In this case it was used to aid forest management, and as a result, the term Forest Ecosystem Management (FEM) was coined. FEM strives for a systematic appreciation of the factors that determine the structures, processes, and functions of forest ecosystems. Beside the scientific-ecological connections, they include the interactions of the forest systems with the human societies that affect and use them. Based upon this, concrete management approaches have to be developed.
However, at an international level the aim is not always the sustainable use of forests. In many parts of the world forests have to compete with forms of land-use that are often more profitable in the short run. The result of increasing utilization pressure and progressive deforestation is the dramatic loss of healthy and functional forest ecosystems and of their biological diversity. The biggest challenge for a forest ecosystem manager is to manage the forest not only for the extraction of a single main product, such as wood, but also to satisfy as many differing stakeholder needs as possible. With this in mind, ecosystem services e.g. related to the water and carbon cycles of the biosphere, are becoming more and more important.
Approach of the University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde
The innovative study programme International Forest Ecosystem Management (IFEM) was introduced as one of the first of its kind in 1998. It was awarded a seal of approval by the DAAD and the HRK and was accredited as a Bachelor of Science study programme in 2002. Since then, it has been developed systematically and strategically, keeping abreast of new developments within the field of ecosystem management. The study programme has been designed to address the ever growing importance of the ecosystem approach and the permanently growing challenge to preserve our forests.
Features and structure of the study programme
- six-term Bachelor study programme
1st and 2nd term: Theoretical study term (methodical and technical fundamentals) 3rd and 4th term: Theoretical study term (Utilization and preservation of forest ecosystems) 5th term: Practical study term (traineeship abroad bearing strong reference to the later field of occupation; foreign students may attend the practical study term in Germany) 6th term: Theoretical study term (Integral forest ecosystem management and bachelor thesis)
180 ECTS credits (30 credits per term)
- International approved degree as Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Lectures offered in English and German Features and structure of the study programme
Contents and learning objectives
A solid ecological and forest-related education is supplemented with lectures in the field of socio-economics, nature protection, law and management (e.g. adaptive management practices).
- Biodiversity conservation management
- Biological and ecological fundamentals of forest and wildlife management
- Forest management in consideration of economic fundamentals
- Legal, social, and political fundamentals of forest management
- Forest use and forest protection
- Technical aspects of forest management
- In addition, significant key qualifications are imparted
- Competence in problem solving and decision making
- Teamwork abilities and social competence
- Training in process and project management
- Language skills, communicative and rhetorical abilities
- Competence in data collecting and processing (including environmental information technology, GIS, etc.)
Uniqueness and job opportunities
The IFEM study programme is one of very few rather unique international study programmes of its kind, (comparable study programs can be found at the universities of e.g.: York University, UK; New Brunswick, Canada; Iowa State University, USA). The study programme is both popular with German and international applicants. We have countless contacts with organisations and institutions both here and abroad, and the quality and reputation of our graduates has become well known.
With the onset of the 2005/2006 winter semester, a top-to-bottom reformation of the content and forms of teaching has been implemented, in order to adapt the study programme to the requirements of the labour market and to achieve a further improvement in quality. These new study programme revisions are being introduced to take account of the importance of the ecosystem approach and to acknowledge the relatively recent accession of ecosystem management tools and practices into the UN-Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In accordance with that convention, many governments are striving intensively to incorporate the ecosystem approach into their land use planning and policy. Ecosystem management and the principles of sustainable forestry are undergoing a period of unprecedented change and synergy, and it is exactly this that makes our study programme so unique and dynamic.
Accordingly, the graduates of IFEM are able to work in many diverse occupational areas. They are particularly well suited to work within projects concerning: Land use management, sustainable forestry and conservation. Furthermore they may also be able to contribute to the development processes involved in the formation of natural resource accords and agreements. Potential employers could include public and private institutions, as well as private commercial companies. In addition, graduates would also be well equipped in terms of specialist operations, such as for example, those of development work.