2016

Forestry sector attracts great interest in education fair “Skola 2016”

In order to encourage young people's interest in acquiring education in the forestry sector, JSC "Latvian State Forests" (LVM) and industry representatives organised the joint stand of the Faculty of Forest of Latvia University of Agriculture (LUA) and Ogre Technical School in education fair "Skola 2016". This fair is a place where the forest industry experts can meet to share their experience, knowledge and skills. This year next to valuable discussions visitors could also try something new - a harvester simulator, right in the centre of the university stand.

"One must have great patience to get in the harvester simulator and understand how things work. However, those who are interested, usually also have the patience needed. This year it also serves as the main tool to attract new students to the forestry sector," said a student of the Faculty of Forest, representing the university at the fair.

LVM in collaboration with LUA provides support in the issues related to the curriculum and further education of the academic staff. New education and training programmes are developed on a regular basis, LVM experts are involved in the learning process and in the elaboration of the content of the curriculum; in the course of the learning process students are given an opportunity to use a number of different IT programmes. Besides, every year LVM announces a scholarship competition, which is also open to students of different LUA study programmes.

Reinis from Umurga will possibly connect his future with the forest industry, but is not sure, if it will be logging. However, this does not stop him from trying out the harvester simulator: "It looks easier than it actually is – it is like a computer game, but much more complicated. All in all, I really liked it, I would like to try the simulator again, and maybe work with it a little longer."

A second year student of the LUA Bachelor's programme "Forestry Science" says that there is a great interest in the forest sector, students visit the stand to get more information about the study opportunities, student life; also teachers come here to get some useful materials to take along to their students. The girl also said: "When thinking about what to study, I wasn't sure if the forestry sector was the right thing for me, but I am very satisfied with my choice. This summer, I plan to gain some practical skills and experience, working at a forest industry company. In the fair, too, visitors show a greater interest in the practical things - the harvester simulator attracts students like a magnet, because all the guys want to try out what it feels like to drive such a huge forest car. I'm afraid to break something, so I only watch, but watching is also much fun!"

  Open gallery 

From 26 to 28 February, already for the 22nd time, Ķīpsala International Exhibition Centre hosts international education fair "Skola 2016". In the education fair anyone interested can obtain information about the offer of Latvian as well as of foreign universities and other educational institutions, the newest training programmes, hobby education, as well as acquire a foreign language or take part in a number of other courses offered.