The position of the association "Russian Forest" on the creation of an association of forestry universities

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation intends to unite Russian forestry universities into an association. It will include higher educational institutions that train specialists for the forestry industry, including such key specialized universities in the country as St. S. M. Kirov, Voronezh State Forest Engineering University named after G. F. Morozov, Ural State Forest Engineering University.

Together with leading universities, the Russian Forest National Association of Timber Manufacturers came up with such an initiative in 2021. And this decision is fully in line with the strategy for the development of the forest complex of the Russian Federation until 2030.

The role of science in the forest management system is increasing every year. It is innovation and technical centers that should ensure structural changes in the forest complex and its technological breakthrough - such a center can be an association of universities. Such centers will allow to consolidate resources in the field of personnel and scientific support for the innovative development of the forest complex, to form new knowledge and competencies in the field of forestry and the forest industry.

The Russian Forest Association is also developing various initiatives aimed at increasing the human and scientific potential of the timber industry in Russia. The Association is a partner of leading domestic universities that train personnel for the forestry industry: the Arctic State Agrotechnological University, the Institute of Forestry. VN Sukachev Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bratsk State University. Russian Forest maintains close ties with research centers, on the basis of which the research and scientific potential is combined with the practical tasks of industry participants.

At the same time, the expertise of the Russian Forest association allows us to assert that reforming the system of training personnel for the timber industry is a complex, multi-stage task. Real shifts here are impossible without counter-movement on the part of business, the state and universities. The main steps in this work are:

  • removal of areas of training in forest specialties from the enlarged group of specialties and areas of training (UGSN) "35.00.00 - agriculture, forestry and fisheries", as well as the creation of a separate UGSN in order to train personnel for the forestry complex;
  • creation of a separate federal educational and methodological association in the system of higher education on the UGSN "Technologies for the reproduction and processing of forest resources";
  • redistribution of admission control figures for training in forest areas of training in favor of the subjects of the Russian Federation in need of these personnel;
  • revision of the optimality of training areas, taking into account the corresponding needs in the subjects of the Russian Federation;
  • introduction of real practice of modular reading of special disciplines;
  • promoting and improving the image of the forestry profession;
  • ensuring decent wages.

The experience of the National Association of Timber Manufacturers "Russian Forest" in conducting acceleration programs for innovative projects in the field of the forest complex remains extremely relevant. The Association is ready to share expertise in this matter with the state, higher educational institutions, research institutions and business.

All of the above initiatives and their results are highly demanded by interested parties - business, government and universities. The demand for qualified personnel in the timber industry is growing every year, and stable work, development of the industry, and competitiveness on the world stage can only be ensured by professionals in their field.

The issues of developing human resources in the field of the forest complex are important and relevant. Their solution is a global program of investment in people with the aim of creating a new economy of knowledge, innovation and the latest technologies, the basis of which is human capital.

The Russian Forest Association will continue to promote the development of the human resources potential of the forest industry, strengthening cooperation with the scientific community and accumulating the best practices of advanced technologies in the field of timber industry.