Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SG0247 Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector, 15.0 Credits

Den internationella skogssektorn - Struktur och politik

Subjects

Forest Science Business Administration

Education cycle

Master’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	15.0	0101

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits at basic level including

- 60 credits Forest Science or

- 60 credits Forest Management or

- 60 credits Agricultural Science or

- 60 credits Rural Development or

- 60 credits Business Administration or

- 60 credits Economics or

- 60 credits Political Science

and

English 6

Objectives

The main objective of this course is to give the students the knowledge to critically reflect upon, and discuss, the role of the forest sector for society in a global perspective, and how the sector interacts with society and the external economy.

After completing the course, students should be able to:

• describe and explain the forest resources development over time in different regions, especially in relation to other forms of land use;

• explain main features and regional differences of the global forest industry, including capacity, production, trade, economic significance, and structural change;

• relate to forest industry features to other conditions and trends, e.g. technological, economic, social and environmental;

• describe and critically discuss the role of forests and the forest sector for global sustainable development, related to forest industry products as well as ecosystem services and None Timber Forest Products (NTFP);

• define key elements of international l forest policy development and describe forest policy development;

• account for how national forest policies are related to international structures;

• explain and discuss forest policy from a political science perspective, with focus on partaking, participation and power, focusing on stakeholder perspectives;

• explain and discuss forest policy from an economy perspective, focusing on political and economic instruments, as well as explain how different policy instruments affect the development of policy and

• independently and critically discuss forest policy problems, related to the sustainability concept from a national and international perspective.

Content

The course is based on learning activities, for example lectures, seminars, oral presentations, written assignments and study visits. Activities can be individual as well as group based. Compulsory attendance is required at for example study visits, guest lectures and seminars.

The course takes it’s starting point in topical forest related societal challenges concerning e.g. land use, industrial production, use of resources, demographic changes and climate change. Throughout the course the sustainable development goals (SDG:s) established by the United Nations in 2015 are used and related to. In relation to these challenges questions about ecological, social and economic sustainability, the forest industries role and prerequisites, and how political and economic governance can be designed to achieve different political goals are discussed.

The course focus are at (1) fundamental knowledge on the forest resource and the forest industry structure, development and role in society – with global as well as local perspectives; and (2) the content in international and national forest policy, as well as models for market based and political tools. During the coursedifferent regions with different circumstances regarding forest resources, forest industry and social structure are in focus.

By providing insight into how the forest sector contribute to societies need; how the sector interact with other sectors in society; and about political balances between different interests and values, the students are inspired to reflect about how different stakeholders in the forest sector are balanced and how the contribution from the sector can be improved. During the whole course the forest sector decisions, how forest policy evolves and we reflect over stakeholders, conflicts of interest, power and responsibility at global, regional and national level are discussed.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Approved written examination.

Active participation in study visits and guest lectures

Approved written and oral presentation of assignments.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

The course is given as a two-campus solution and can be followed from Uppsala or Umeå.

The course is interdisciplinary and is based on both social sciences and forest science. This means that it requires knowledge of basic social science concepts and thinking, as well as basic knowledge about the forest sector. Students with a natural science background may have obtained recommended social science prerequisites, for example by writing a bachelor’s degree in social science or having studied basic courses in, for example, business administration, economics or political science. Students with social science or e.g., agrarian background may have acquired the prerequisites, for example, by studying, a basic course in forestry or by writing a bachelor thesis in forestry.



SLU is certified in accordance with PRIME-principles, Principles for Responsible Management Education (http://www.unprme.org/). This course concerns understandings, models and methods for sustainable development.

Responsible department

Department of Forest Economics