Master's programmes a path to reserch careers

Text Susanna Prokkola I Photo Varpu Heiskanen

Warning: attending a Master’s degree programme in eastern Finland might lure you to stay longer.

The MSc European Forestry programme is one of the Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree programmes taught on the Joensuu Campus. It is a two-year double-degree programme co-organised by seven European universities and coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland. The programme focuses especially on the international dimension of sustainable forest management issues.

Since the start of the programme in 2004, more than 120 students representing 46 nationalities have participated in this course. Indeed, the degree is highly valued in the labour market and the academic community alike. Some students, like Ms Mei Qu and Mr Pradipta Halder, have decided to continue their studies in Joensuu.

“First of all, I wanted to continue with doctoral studies. The second reason was that I liked the study atmosphere here: the supervisors are supportive and easy-going people, and of course well-renowned in this field,” Ms Qu says.

Mr Halder’s reasons were quite similar: “Forest sciences on the Joensuu Campus constitute an internationally reognised research centre. I completed my Master’s thesis here and became familiar with the diverse research activities. It was, of course, a great motivational factor to continue with my doctoral studies, as a doctoral degree is needed to pursue a research career,” he explains.

Mr Pradipta Halder an Ms Mei Qu

Multidisciplinary studies

Ms Mei Qu comes from China and she took her Bachelor’s degree in Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, majoring in forest protection. Her Master’s thesis dealt with public perceptions towards urban forests in Joensuu and in Yangling, China. “However, I didn’t continue with this topic. My PhD addresses the social climate of forest bioenergy development in China. Like in other countries, forest bioenergy has great potential in China, but its development is still at an early stage,” Ms Qu explains.

“The social issues are not developed well, but public awareness and knowledge dissemination are important concerning the use of forest bioenergy in the future. Therefore, I think this topic has a very promising future.”

In addition to forestry, Ms Qu’s PhD studies have a multidisciplinary dimension to them, as her supervisors represent both forest and social sciences. The same goes for Mr Halder, as his PhD combines forestry and education. “I am studying bioenergy and the awareness and perceptions of bioenergy of young students in Finland and three other European and Asian countries. My research seeks to combine both educational and energy policyrelated aspects. Therefore, I have supervisors representing both forestry and education,” Mr Halder says.

Mr Halder comes from India and he took his Bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting at the University of Calcutta. When attending the MSc European Forestry programme, he already had a Master’s degree in forestry management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal.

International forestry

Forest sciences are often credited as one of the most international research environments on the Joensuu Campus. “I really feel it is right to say so,” Ms Qu confirms. “Many PhD students are from different countries: China, India, Nepal, Spain, Bengal… People are very open minded, easy to talk to and they share information and knowledge. It is a very harmonious family,” she says.

“It is truly an international research environment,” Mr Halder agrees. “I often meet people from nearly all the continents. The Faculty of Science and Forestry has been able to establish itself as an internationally renowned research centre and I am sure that the number of international researchers will rise in the future,” he says.

Ms Qu points out that one of the factors contributing to the international atmosphere in forest sciences are the international study programmes of the faculty. In addition to the MSc European Forestry, the faculty hosts the CBU Master’s degree programme in Forestry and Environmental Engineering, and offers non-degree studies for exchange students.

Ms Qu was the second student to graduate from the MSc European Forestry programme on the Joensuu Campus four years ago. Mr Halder completed the programme a year later in 2007.

And what ’s ahead after the PhD?

“I would like to continue with post-doc studies if there is a chance. Another option is to find a job in China related to bioenergy policy and/or bioenergy education,” Ms Qu says.

“I think a doctoral degree will be an asset in the labour market, although competition is getting stiffer for research-oriented jobs too. A post-doc is in my plans before embarking on a fully-fledged professional career,” Mr Halder plans decisively.