This presentation by Jack Westoby given during the Forests Asia summit in the learning event "Learning event: Forestry education and research in Asia: Reality, challenges and the way forward" talks about the purpose of forestry education, the professional's role and skills needed for success in forestry.

1. Some C20 thinking for C21 forestry education
The purpose of forestry education
Jack Westoby 1967
 develop & discern knowledge:
 what’s relevant, where to find, how to use
 appreciate interrelatedness:
 of phenomena & disciplines
 cultivate responsibility:
 for own actions, others’ welfare
 develop healthy scepticism:
 of received doctrine
 learn cooperation:
 challenges & benefits
IFSS 2003

2. The professionals’ role(s)
Desirable characteristics of forest policymakers & managers
(Ellefson 1990)
- acceptance of leadership roles
- a sense of vision & purpose
- capacity to foster creativity & innovation
- positive attitude to challenges
- capacity to integrate & collaborate
- political & administrative sense

3. Skills needed for success in forestry
(in rank order, by USA employers: Sample et al 1999)
l ability to work in diverse teams
l ability to listen & address public questions & concerns
l understanding of forest ecosystems
l an innovative approach to working with the public
l ability to evaluate & synthesise information
l understanding of landscape level planning
= a mix of knowledge & skills in both social & natural sciences
+ personal attributes & interpersonal skills

4. Discussion – some provocations
l speakers have outlined both imperatives & constraints
l optimistic & pessimistic scenarios
l pessimistic
l ‘forestry’ less important for development
l agency of foresters diminished at many levels
l optimistic
l critical roles of forests in sustaining landscapes &
development more widely recognised
l with it, the agency & leverage of foresters …
l which scenario, & how do we shape the future we want?