Solving global challenges needs international and multidisciplinary co-operation in terms of education and capacity building. Therefore, seven Chilean and Finnish universities have created a co-operation network to enhance bilateral capacity building in the field of the bioeconomy, and to share best practices between Chile and Finland.
The universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). These universities are Universidad Católica del Maule of Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, University of Talca, Universidad de Concepción, University of Eastern Finland, Karelia University of Applied Sciences and Savonia University of Applied Sciences.
The universities are planning co-operation in terms of joint implementation of bioeconomy education for students and professionals. This includes sharing of experiences and best practices on enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in higher education. The focus areas are sustainable and socially responsible use of natural resources, wood construction, bio and circular economy, and agricultural systems. Co-operation between the universities will start by sharing best practices of bioeconomy education programmes, e.g. Finnish bioeconomy specialization studies which are targeted at professionals working in the broad field of bioeconomy.
This co-operation is part of the Finnish bioeconomy development project called “Developing international bioeconomy competence in Eastern Finland by working life oriented continuous learning”. The project aims to improve the offering of the universities in continuous learning in the growing bioeconomy sector and to develop working life orientation of the education, both pedagogically and in terms of substance. The project is funded by the European Social Fund and its duration is 2.5 years.