Bioeconomy perception by future stakeholders: Hearing from European forestry students
Mauro Masiero, Laura Secco, Davide Pettenella, Riccardo Da Re, Hanna Bernö, Ariane Carreira, Alexander Dobrovolsky, Blanka Giertlieova, Alexandru Giurca, Sara Holmgren, Cecilia Mark‐Herbert, Lenka Navrátilová, Helga Pülzl, Lea Ranacher, Alessandra Salvalaggio, Arnaud Sergent, Juuso Sopanen, Cristoph Stelzer, Theresa Stetter, Lauri Valsta, Jozef Výbošťok, Ida Wallin
Abstract
This article provides useful information for universities offering forestry programs and facing the growing demand for bioeconomy education. An explorative survey on bioeconomy perception among 1400 students enrolled in 29 universities across nine European countries offering forestry programs was performed. The data have been elaborated via descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. Around 70% of respondents have heard about the bioeconomy, mainly through university courses. Students perceive forestry as the most important sector for bioeconomy; however, the extent of perceived importance of forestry varies between countries, most significantly across groups of countries along a North-South European axis. Although differences across bachelor and master programs are less pronounced, they shed light on how bioeconomy is addressed by university programs and the level of student satisfaction with this. These differences and particularities are relevant for potential development routes towards comprehensive bioeconomy curricula at European forestry universities with a forestry focus.