Training should suit sector needs, says FFIF

Training schemes need to provide the forestry sector with workers that are multi-faceted and meet the requirements of employers, the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) said.

Vocational and university education should be tailored to meet the needs of employers, ensuring the “worker of the future in the forest sector will be capable of handling the processes, engaging in fruitful co-operation and working easily within a group”, according to the organisation.

“The forest industry’s vocational and university teaching should come more closely in line with expertise requirements,” said FFIF managing director Anne Brunila.

“In particular these constitute preparedness, together with group work and foreman/-woman skills, as well as the ability to extend personal expertise and transfer from one job to another.

“University education needs to be supplemented by customer orientation, business acumen in the sector, entrepreneurship and an overall grasp of business principles.”

The FFIF added that Finland’s forest cluster’s research strategy wants to see “different scientific disciplines and areas of expertise to be innovatively combined”.